Lorazepam treatment may be linked to worse outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients (Associative progression risk -68% (Xanax) vs. +383% (Ativan))

Medical Xpress / American Association for Cancer Research / Clinical Cancer Research ^ | Aug. 16, 2023 | Abigail Cornwell et al

[ConservativeMind]

This may be associative, but I’d immediately switch medicines, if possible.

[ConservativeMind]

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[ClearCase_guy]

“worse outcome” with pancreatic cancer seems like a relative thing. The odds are not in your favor no matter how you slice it.

[ConservativeMind]

The medicines appear to cost the same, about $13 a prescription for generics, via GoodRX discounts.

[ConservativeMind]

They do cover other cancers briefly in the write up.

[NWFree]

I would want some lorazepam too

[wardaddy]

If you’re dying what difference does it matter what chills out anxious folks

Give them heroin if it works

Ativan is a fairly week benzo

People demonize meds like neocons demonize China and Russia

Always something existential

Which is silly with pancreatic cancer

[for-q-clinton]

It sounds like it would make sense. The anti-anxiety meds like xanax really change the way your body reacts.

[Vermont Lt]

My wife is 4 years out from her diagnosis with PC.

Quite honestly, I am pretty sure she would be dead today if not for the lorazepam, LOL.

The factors for survival from PC are surgery, clean margins, no lymph nodes, chemo, and a low CA 19-9.

If you don’t have those things…your chances are pretty grim. I don’t think most of those folks are worried about how they deal with the anxiety.

[Boogieman]

“commonly prescribed to treat anxiety during cancer treatment”

Ain’t that an anti-psychotic?!?

I suppose you’re not very anxious if you are reduced to drooling on yourself in a stupor, but it might be a bit of overkill.

[AuntB]

Interesting! My pancreas is shot, hereditary, pre cancerous. My BP meds are really bad for the pancreas.

[AuntB]

Agreed!!

[JusPasenThru]

OMG, this is data-dredging drek.

[frogjerk]

Thanks for posting all of these medical articles. I don’t read them all but when I do they are very interesting.

[ClearCase_guy]

I hope your wife continues to do well. My father died of PC a long time ago. Treatments are better these days.

[Dartoid]

I would stay away from xanex. period

[Delta 21]

No one will ever get another benzo between my lips.

I will kill you dead if you try.

[caddie]

"The peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) has previously been reported as an oncogene in prostate, breast and colorectal cancers"

This is a quote from a paper in J Cancer. 2017; 8(16): 3343–3355.The title is:

The Prognostic Value of Peripheral Benzodiazepine Receptor in Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The paper found that esophageal squamous cell carcinoma likewise (with breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers) expresses a protein similar to a benzodiazepine receptor, and all these cancers are promoted or activated by benzodiazepine molecules.

I believe that people with these cancers will still receive and use benzodiazepines for anxiety or as a part of anesthetics.

The greater significance is that these receptors can be used to make sensitive detection assays for metastasis and for progression of disease in these cancers.

Or, maybe, a different and novel route for chemo- or immunotherapy of these cancers can come from these findings.

[Vermont Lt]

Even in the four years, the treatment has changed. It nice to see it getting some attention.

[jmacusa]

True. Pancreatic cancer is almost always a death sentence.