
Millions on common heart drug have 60% lower risk of dying from lethal cancer, study suggests
Cholesterol-lowering pills used by millions of adults may slash the risk of developing a common type of blood cancer, research today suggested.
Statins are Britain's most prescribed medicines, with more than 70 million packs dispensed annually.
Now, scientists in the United Arab Emirates, who tracked more than 1,000 patients with the disease, found those taking the drug were almost two thirds less likely to die from their cancer than those who weren't.
Experts, labelled the findings 'very promising' but cautioned they do not yet prove that statins can 'directly improve cancer outcomes'.
It follows previous research that has suggested taking the medicines may lower the risk of developing up to 20 other types of cancer, including breast, liver, stomach and even bowel.
Dr Ahmad Abuhelwa, an assistant professor of pharmacotherapeutics at the University of Sharjah, said: 'Our results highlight a strong link between statin use and improved survival.
'These findings don't allow us to say for certain that statins directly improve cancer outcomes.
'However, the fact that this association remained strong even after accounting for multiple factors makes it an important area for future research.'
In the study, researchers assessed statin use on patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL).
Often referred to as the same cancer, both cause white blood cells to develop abnormally, breaking down the body's ability to fight infection.
CLL and SLL are rarely cured completely. Instead, patients live with the cancer, undergoing treatment to control it for as long as possible.
Because the disease develops slowly, doctors have to wait until there is enough cancer in the blood to warrant aggressive treatment.
While patients can be declared cancer-free after chemo, the disease can return, requiring further rounds.
Roughly 80 per cent of patients survive five years or more with the disease.
But according to Lymphoma Action, around 4,500 people are diagnosed with CLL or SLL every year in the UK — more than 12 people each day.
It affects nearly twice as many men as women.
In the study, the scientists tracked 1,467 patients with CLL or SLL, who were aged 65 on average.
Patients were randomly assigned newer cancer therapy drug ibrutinib, either alone or in combination with other anti-cancer drugs.
A third group was put on a drug regimen that did not include ibrutinib.
Around a third of patients were taking a statin at the time they started treatment.
Over a follow-up of roughly five years the researchers found those on statins had a 61 per cent lower risk of dying from their cancer compared to those who were not.
Writing in the journal Blood Advances, they also found patients on the drug had a 38 per cent reduced risk of death from any cause and a 26 per cent reduced risk of disease progression.
The scientists, however, acknowledged the study was merely observational and could not prove why statins may reduce the risk.
The paper also had some 'limitations', they said, including the fact patients use statins at different doses.
'The study could not determine the effects of specific statin types, doses, or duration of use on patients' survival,' they added.
Dr Abuhelwa also said: 'While our results are very promising, we can't recommend starting statins for CLL or SLL treatment based on this study alone.
'Future clinical trials are needed to determine definitively whether statins have a direct benefit on cancer survival.'
Since the drugs first won approval in 1987, global sales of statins have exceeded £765 billion.
The drugs were designed to protect people at high risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. Here, they work by limiting the production of 'bad' low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which can harden or narrow arteries.
They were developed originally for the secondary prevention of heart attacks or strokes — that is, reducing the risk of future events in patients who have already suffered one.
Now they are increasingly used for primary prevention — in people who haven't had a heart attack or stroke, but are deemed to be at risk.

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Scottish Sun
13 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
The 2-second at-home test that can reveal your risk of 8 nasty conditions – including killer stroke and Alzheimer's
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A TEST you can do at home in matter of seconds - with a bag of sugar, an air fryer or even a pet - could reveal your risk eight diseases. Do you have difficulty picking up an object weighing 5 kilograms after a certain age? Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Declining muscle strength is linked to a higher risk of dementia or stroke Credit: Getty If so, you run the risk of developing conditions such as chronic lung disease, arthritis, stroke and Alzheimer's disease, according to researchers from the University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. As we get older, our muscles naturally weaken. Muscle and hand grip strength have long been used as indicators of disease risk and can serve as a warning of declining health. But the current tools used by doctors can be expensive, meaning only clinics can afford them. Researchers set out find a simpler and more accessible method of assessing muscle strength without the use of specialised tools - finding that objects lying around at home can also be reliable indicators. Professor Rizwan Qaisar, the study's first author, said: "Imagine you're at home, and you pick up a bag of groceries, maybe something that weighs about 5 kg - like a big bag of sugar or a small kitchen appliance. "If you find yourself struggling with that, it might seem like a small thing, but our research shows it could be a really important clue about your health." Scientists conducted their investigation using data from 51,536 adults from 15 countries who were aged 50 and older. "We tracked them over time to see if their ability to lift 5 kg was connected to developing various health conditions in the future. What we found was quite significant," Prof Qaisar said. "People who reported difficulty lifting 5 kg had a significantly higher risk of experiencing a lower quality of life, higher rates of depression, chronic lung diseases, hip fractures, joint disorders, high cholesterol, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and osteoarthritis. 10 second one leg stand test "Interestingly, this connection held regardless of their age or gender. "Our findings strongly suggest that this simple, everyday test could be a valuable early indicator of overall health and potential future health challenges." Researchers conducted their study over a five year period. Participants were asked to report if they had any difficulty doing various everyday activities at the outset of the study, as well their age, gender and country of residence. Those who had one of the diseases in question at the start of the study were excluded from analysis. One of the activities was 'lifting or carrying weights over 5 kilos', which became the central point of the researchers' analysis. "The 5kg threshold was selected due to its relevance to everyday household objects, such as a standard bag of sugar or all-purpose flour, an average house cat, an air fryer, a portable slow cooker, and the cast iron Dutch oven," they wrote. "Thus, the study provides a practical and accessible measure of muscle strength and overall health within the domestic environment." Ways to improve your strength A strength exercise is any activity that makes your muscles work harder than usual. This increases your muscles' strength, size, power and endurance. The activities involve using your body weight or working against a resistance. You should try to do two sessions or more of muscle strengthening exercises a week. Examples of muscle-strengthening activities include: Lifting weights Working with resistance bands Heavy gardening, such as digging and shovelling Climbing stairs Hill walking Cycling Dance Push-ups, sit-ups and squats Yoga Source: NHS Study participants were also asked to fill out a quality of life questionnaire - which included such as 'how often do you think your age prevents you from doing the things you would like to do?' - and had symptoms of depression assessed too. From the 51,536 respondents, 10,025 (19.5 per cent) had difficulty lifting 5kg at the start of the study. Over the follow-up period, researchers found that people who had difficulty picking up 5kg objects had a higher risk of reporting a low quality of life (9 per cent), depression (8 per cent) and osteoarthritis (7 per cent). They also had a mild to moderate risks of having "rheumatoid arthritis, heart attack, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, or hip fracture", according to researchers. Study authors found that women had a higher risk of various diseases than men. They said muscle weakness could be indicative of several things. "First, muscle weakness in these participants suggests a sedentary lifestyle and low physical activity, which are risk factors for several diseases reported here. "For example, a sedentary lifestyle is associated with higher risks of depression, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, and neurological deficits. "Participants with difficulty lifting 5kg will likely exhibit muscle wasting," they went on. "Muscle mass is a significant protein reserve that protects against organ degeneration due to trauma, diseases, and/or ageing. Thus, a low muscle mass in the participants with difficulty lifting 5kg of weight can predispose them to develop chronic diseases." Finally, muscle weakness could be connected to inflammation. "It is also established that chronic low-grade inflammation can cause and/or exacerbate various cardiovascular, neurological, and metabolic disorders reported in this study," researchers stated. Study co-author Dr Fabio Franzese from SHARE Berlin Institute in Germany, said: "Muscle weakness isn't just a sign of ageing; it's a profound warning for future disease." That's why the "simple act" of trying pick up 5kg with "no fancy equipment" can be "a powerful health predictor". "Our findings put early health assessment in everyone's hands," he said. Prof Qaisar added: "Before major illness, there's often a subtle struggle. This test offers a crucial window for intervention. "The test empowers people to seek early medical advice, motivates healthier lifestyle choices, and offers health care providers a valuable preliminary screening tool to identify at-risk individuals, ultimately improving preventive care and public health outreach for older populations."


The Sun
13 hours ago
- The Sun
The 2-second at-home test that can reveal your risk of 8 nasty conditions – including killer stroke and Alzheimer's
A TEST you can do at home in matter of seconds - with a bag of sugar, an air fryer or even a pet - could reveal your risk eight diseases. Do you have difficulty picking up an object weighing 5 kilograms after a certain age? 1 If so, you run the risk of developing conditions such as chronic lung disease, arthritis, stroke and Alzheimer's disease, according to researchers from the University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. As we get older, our muscles naturally weaken. Muscle and hand grip strength have long been used as indicators of disease risk and can serve as a warning of declining health. But the current tools used by doctors can be expensive, meaning only clinics can afford them. Researchers set out find a simpler and more accessible method of assessing muscle strength without the use of specialised tools - finding that objects lying around at home can also be reliable indicators. Professor Rizwan Qaisar, the study's first author, said: "Imagine you're at home, and you pick up a bag of groceries, maybe something that weighs about 5 kg - like a big bag of sugar or a small kitchen appliance. "If you find yourself struggling with that, it might seem like a small thing, but our research shows it could be a really important clue about your health." Scientists conducted their investigation using data from 51,536 adults from 15 countries who were aged 50 and older. "We tracked them over time to see if their ability to lift 5 kg was connected to developing various health conditions in the future. What we found was quite significant," Prof Qaisar said. "People who reported difficulty lifting 5 kg had a significantly higher risk of experiencing a lower quality of life, higher rates of depression, chronic lung diseases, hip fractures, joint disorders, high cholesterol, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and osteoarthritis. 10 second one leg stand test "Interestingly, this connection held regardless of their age or gender. "Our findings strongly suggest that this simple, everyday test could be a valuable early indicator of overall health and potential future health challenges." Researchers conducted their study over a five year period. Participants were asked to report if they had any difficulty doing various everyday activities at the outset of the study, as well their age, gender and country of residence. Those who had one of the diseases in question at the start of the study were excluded from analysis. One of the activities was 'lifting or carrying weights over 5 kilos', which became the central point of the researchers' analysis. "The 5kg threshold was selected due to its relevance to everyday household objects, such as a standard bag of sugar or all-purpose flour, an average house cat, an air fryer, a portable slow cooker, and the cast iron Dutch oven," they wrote. "Thus, the study provides a practical and accessible measure of muscle strength and overall health within the domestic environment." Ways to improve your strength A strength exercise is any activity that makes your muscles work harder than usual. This increases your muscles' strength, size, power and endurance. The activities involve using your body weight or working against a resistance. You should try to do two sessions or more of muscle strengthening exercises a week. Examples of muscle-strengthening activities include: Lifting weights Working with resistance bands Heavy gardening, such as digging and shovelling Climbing stairs Hill walking Cycling Dance Push-ups, sit-ups and squats Yoga Source: NHS Study participants were also asked to fill out a quality of life questionnaire - which included such as 'how often do you think your age prevents you from doing the things you would like to do?' - and had symptoms of depression assessed too. From the 51,536 respondents, 10,025 (19.5 per cent) had difficulty lifting 5kg at the start of the study. Over the follow-up period, researchers found that people who had difficulty picking up 5kg objects had a higher risk of reporting a low quality of life (9 per cent), depression (8 per cent) and osteoarthritis (7 per cent). They also had a mild to moderate risks of having "rheumatoid arthritis, heart attack, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, or hip fracture", according to researchers. Study authors found that women had a higher risk of various diseases than men. They said muscle weakness could be indicative of several things. "First, muscle weakness in these participants suggests a sedentary lifestyle and low physical activity, which are risk factors for several diseases reported here. "For example, a sedentary lifestyle is associated with higher risks of depression, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, and neurological deficits. "Participants with difficulty lifting 5kg will likely exhibit muscle wasting," they went on. "Muscle mass is a significant protein reserve that protects against organ degeneration due to trauma, diseases, and/or ageing. Thus, a low muscle mass in the participants with difficulty lifting 5kg of weight can predispose them to develop chronic diseases." Finally, muscle weakness could be connected to inflammation. "It is also established that chronic low-grade inflammation can cause and/or exacerbate various cardiovascular, neurological, and metabolic disorders reported in this study," researchers stated. Study co-author Dr Fabio Franzese from SHARE Berlin Institute in Germany, said: "Muscle weakness isn't just a sign of ageing; it's a profound warning for future disease." That's why the "simple act" of trying pick up 5kg with "no fancy equipment" can be "a powerful health predictor". "Our findings put early health assessment in everyone's hands," he said. "The test empowers people to seek early medical advice, motivates healthier lifestyle choices, and offers health care providers a valuable preliminary screening tool to identify at-risk individuals, ultimately improving preventive care and public health outreach for older populations."


Daily Record
26-05-2025
- Daily Record
Renfrewshire blood cancer patient taking on a coast-to-coast cycling challenge for charity
When Robert Howat told his wife Suzanne he planned to cycle 250 miles across Scotland just months after being diagnosed with blood cancer, she thought he was 'nuts'. A Renfrewshire blood cancer patient is set to take on a coast-to-coast cycling challenge for charity. This June, Robert Howat and two friends will set off on a coast-to-coast cycling challenge from Stranraer in Wigtownshire to Eyemouth, Berwickshire, all to raise money and awareness for Blood Cancer UK. And when the 50-year-old told his wife Suzanne he planned to cycle 250 miles across Scotland just months after being diagnosed with blood cancer, she thought he was 'nuts'. Robert, from Kilbarchan, was diagnosed with a form of blood cancer, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) in 2024. 'I was quite fatigued, quite a lot of the time, me being me, I didn't tell anybody I wasn't feeling great,' Robert explained. 'I didn't want to feel embarrassed; I'd fall asleep sitting on the couch, I was dizzy all the time, and out of breath. My wife is a nurse practitioner, she took my stats, she didn't understand how I was still standing!' CLL is a slow-growing type of blood cancer that affects white blood cells and can often go unnoticed until it reaches a more advanced stage. Diagnosed while on oxygen in the hospital after a week, Robert admits his blood cancer diagnosis has been a shock for the family. He said: 'It's been a shock for the family, but I'm still trying to process why it's happened. I did everything right, I'm fit and healthy, I don't smoke, yet I've been dealt this hand.' Despite the shock, Robert's response is to carry on and be optimistic. He explained: 'When I got the diagnosis, I thought, 'What can I do to show people you can still live fully and help others while you're at it?' I'm on watch and wait, so I go in for check-ups every few months, and I want to show people what you can do with a blood cancer.' As a former police officer now working at Glasgow Airport, Robert is to take on an endurance challenge that would test even the fittest riders. Yet Robert's diagnosis of a blood cancer does mean that he's not able to train as much as he'd like. 'I have to be careful, CLL affects your immune system, so I need to avoid infection and balance exercise with recovery. I can't train like I used to,' he said. The 250-mile ride will take place over two days and include hills, wind, rain, and midges but Robert is looking forward to it. Setting off from Stranraer, the first day will take them to Newcastleton before the final leg to Eyemouth the next day. He's not doing it alone – he'll be joined by friends and fellow cyclists and supported by family and friends. His wife, Suzanne, despite calling the challenge 'mad', will be cheering from the sidelines, along with their daughters Eve and Adeline. Robert added: 'When I was well in the past I've run marathons, done tough mudders, and long bike rides but this is different. This one means more. I'm doing it show people you can still live with a cancer diagnosis.' The fundraising campaign has already began with over £1,000 coming into his JustGiving page. You can donate online by visiting Speaking about the challenge, Mairead Macleod, Blood Cancer UK's Scotland fundraising manager, said: 'Having a chronic leukaemia, a blood cancer, can be hard enough to navigate, and it's incredible Robert is still able to push himself to raise awareness and funds for Blood Cancer UK. 'Blood cancer is the UK's fifth most common blood cancer. It's because of the determination of people like Robert, we are able to fund more research into the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of blood cancers. 'He's pedalling us closer to the day where we beat blood cancer for good.'