No proof of link between prostate cancer and inhalers
09 August 2010

 Recent newspaper articles have highlighted research suggesting that men with  asthma who use inhalers are up to 40% more likely to develop prostate cancer than men without the condition.

Dr Elaine Vickers, Research Relations Manager at Asthma UK, says: ‘This research suggests that there could be a weak association between asthma and prostate cancer risk. However, even if this is true, the association is small, and there is no reason for men with asthma to be concerned.
 


‘The evidence linking specific types of asthma medicines with prostate cancer is particularly difficult to interpret and, overall, men who used asthma medicines had the same risk as men who did not. We would advise all men with asthma to take their asthma medicines as advised by their doctor or asthma nurse as it is important to keep their symptoms under control.
 


‘If any man is worried that he has symptoms of prostate cancer we would advise him to visit his doctor.’