Popular weight-loss drugs may help protect against a deadly disease, doctor says
GLP-1 medications have transformed diabetes and obesity treatment, but emerging research suggests their benefits could extend far beyond those purposes — potentially even aiding in cancer prevention and survival.Dr. Loren Rourke, a Texas-based board-certified breast cancer surgeon, author and speaker, said growing research suggests glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications — including Ozempic and Wegovy — may be associated with a lower risk of cancer diagnoses and recurrence.
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GLP-1 medications have transformed diabetes and obesity treatment, but emerging research suggests their benefits could extend far beyond those purposes — potentially even aiding in cancer prevention and survival.Dr. Loren Rourke, a Texas-based board-certified breast cancer surgeon, author and speaker, said growing research suggests glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications — including Ozempic and Wegovy — may be associated with a lower risk of cancer diagnoses and recurrence. She pointed to findings presented at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago, where researchers reported an association between GLP-1 use and lower breast cancer recurrence rates, as well as a potential role in preventing the disease.MILLIONS COULD GAIN EASIER ACCESS TO POPULAR PEPTIDES AFTER FDA PANEL VOTEHowever, she noted that the evidence remains observational and can’t prove that the drugs reduce cancer risk."So these aren’t studies that, unfortunately, patients can latch onto, call their doctor and say, ‘I want to get on a GLP-1 right now to reduce my risk of breast cancer or make my breast cancer better,’" Rourke told Fox News Digital. "However, what it did do was shine the light on GLP-1s and that relationship."The main reason that GLP-1s may aid in cancer prevention, according to Rourke, is that the drugs promote weight loss and reduce chronic inflammation.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER"GLP-1s cause a decrease in your BMI.
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- GLP-1 medications have transformed diabetes and obesity treatment, but emerging research suggests their benefits could extend far beyond those purposes — potentially even aiding in cancer prevention and survival.Dr. Loren Rourke, a Texas-based board-certified breast cancer surgeon, author and speaker, said growing research suggests glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications — including Ozempic and Wegovy — may be associated with a lower risk of cancer diagnoses and recurrence.
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Popular weight-loss drugs may help protect against a deadly disease, doctor says
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