Prozac Possible 'Link' to brain Tumors

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Question:

Scientists have discovered that Prozac, the antidepressant taken by millions of people around the world, may stimulate the growth of brain tumors by blocking the body’s natural ability to kill cancer cells. http://www.mercola.com/2002/apr/13/prozac_tumors.htm Diva

Response:

"The study examined the effects of Prozac and other antidepressants on a group of tumor cells growing in a test tube. The researchers found that the drug prevented the cancer cells from committing "suicide", thereby leading to a more vigorous growth of the tumors." I don’t understand what they are trying to stay. Since they are keeping cancer cells happy, it is causing them to live a full life or propagate? BTW, what happened to his dislike of carrots?

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Scientists have discovered that Prozac, the antidepressant taken by millions of people around the world, may stimulate the growth of brain tumors by blocking the body’s natural ability to kill cancer cells. http://www.mercola.com/2002/apr/13/prozac_tumors.htm Diva

Response:

Hi Steve, "The study examined the effects of Prozac and other antidepressants on a group of tumor cells growing in a test tube. The researchers found that the drug prevented the cancer cells from committing "suicide", thereby leading to a more vigorous growth of the tumors."

What isn’t mentioned is that in a test tube the natural immune system components that would ordinarily be brought to bear (NK cells for example) aren’t present, so it isn’t surprising that tumor cells would fail to commit "suicide" (apoptosis is the proper term). There isn’t anything present to program them to do so. I don’t understand what they are trying to stay. Since they are keeping cancer cells happy, it is causing them to live a full life or propagate?

Cancer cells don’t play by the ordinary rules. Not only do they generally not undergo apoptosis when the cells they stem from should, they also divide (even if their stem cells would normally lose the ability to do so upon maturity). That (the uncontrolled cell division) is what gives rise to the tumors. Hope this bit of geekery helps a bit. — Take care, Carmen

Response:

Without reading the article, I’m just guessing that the science. But, normally when cells figure out that they damaged in some way, the cells do apoptosis or programmed cell death. They suicide. If Prozac is keeping those damaged cells from suiciding, then your brain is collecting damaged cells. It does depend on the damage, but some of those damaged cells could cause / become cancer. Since they were testing cancer cells, I assume damaged cancer cells would also do apoptosis; making less cancerous cells. Prozac stopping the suicide of the damaged cancer cells means there are more cancer cells than in the control test tube. So (large jump to conclusions) Prozac causes brain tumors… Shawn

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That’s what we love about you Rosie, just cut right to the chase and point out how stupid we are with no discussion or enlightenment, we should just trust you oh wise one. As you know everything and are way smarter than not only the rest of us, but many medical studies as well. — Theresa 145/132/120 "Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right!" –Henry Ford

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – GOOD LORD! reading that crap again? — read and post, rosie "The best time to plant a tree… was twenty years ago. The second best time, is today."

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GOOD LORD! reading that crap again? — read and post, rosie "The best time to plant a tree… was twenty years ago. The second best time, is today."

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Off topic? What’s up with the slew of wacked out posts today? You lonely and bored or something?

Response:

That was for Liz and a few others who have posted about mood altering drugs. I don’t do much private emailing any more.

Oh Carol. I downloaded that Prozac article and took a look. First place, it was on lymphoma, not brain tumors. Second, the study was conducted on excised animal tissue, so there is no way of knowing if animals would respond similarly in vivo. But this is what the study found: Serotonin causes cell death helps rid the body of rapidly growing cells like cancer cells. Because serotonin reuptake inhibitors keep serotonin out of cells for a longer period of time, the body’s natural defense mechanism is compromised. But you’ll need a lot more evidence before you can take this study on animal cells and apply them to cells in living-breathing human beings. Barbara Barbara Hirsch, Publisher OBESITY MEDS AND RESEARCH NEWS The latest in obesity research and weight loss drug development http://www.obesity-news.com/

Response:

I wanna play too, can I play? Can I? Can I? — Theresa

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m going to opt for posting here just for simplicities sake. I am not really going to start in earnest until Monday though due to weekend stuff. Melissa Should we correspond privately and not subject ASD to menus etc. or would you like it on the board? I’m really flattered that you’d invite me to a challenge and would like to participate. I started today. Thanks Melissa! Hey Carol…how about we go at this "Week at 1200" challenge together? My weight is up a tad, and I could use the discipline of the 1200 to get my brain back in the "Good Choices" mode. I was thinking of starting on Monday… Melissa 140/121/Back under 120 That was for Liz and a few others who have posted about mood altering drugs. I don’t do much private emailing any more. While we’re there I have been off Xanex for a good part of the year. Last week i was supposed to have major dental work done without a needle so I hunted up a single Xanex. The dentist decided not to proceed and my Xanex had settled in. I walked home feeling totally drunk and had no idea how awful that drug made me feel as I used to take it at bedtime. Jay Jay, I’ve neither lonely nor bored. Sometimes i feel chatty. I have a stack of books to study and a good DVD to watch this rainy day and am cooking ahead for my "dig your-claws in week at 1200 calories. Periodically I get a page of links from Dr. Mercola on health, food and medicine and like to post stuff of interest. What’s up with you lately? You seem a bit cranky this week. Off topic? What’s up with the slew of wacked out posts today? You lonely and bored or something? Scientists have discovered that Prozac, the antidepressant taken by millions of people around the world, may stimulate the growth of brain tumors by blocking the body’s natural ability to kill cancer cells. http://www.mercola.com/2002/apr/13/prozac_tumors.htm Diva

Response:

I’m going to opt for posting here just for simplicities sake. I am not really going to start in earnest until Monday though due to weekend stuff. Melissa

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Should we correspond privately and not subject ASD to menus etc. or would you like it on the board? I’m really flattered that you’d invite me to a challenge and would like to participate. I started today. Thanks Melissa! Hey Carol…how about we go at this "Week at 1200" challenge together? My weight is up a tad, and I could use the discipline of the 1200 to get my brain back in the "Good Choices" mode. I was thinking of starting on Monday… Melissa 140/121/Back under 120 That was for Liz and a few others who have posted about mood altering drugs. I don’t do much private emailing any more. While we’re there I have been off Xanex for a good part of the year. Last week i was supposed to have major dental work done without a needle so I hunted up a single Xanex. The dentist decided not to proceed and my Xanex had settled in. I walked home feeling totally drunk and had no idea how awful that drug made me feel as I used to take it at bedtime. Jay Jay, I’ve neither lonely nor bored. Sometimes i feel chatty. I have a stack of books to study and a good DVD to watch this rainy day and am cooking ahead for my "dig your-claws in week at 1200 calories. Periodically I get a page of links from Dr. Mercola on health, food and medicine and like to post stuff of interest. What’s up with you lately? You seem a bit cranky this week. Off topic? What’s up with the slew of wacked out posts today? You lonely and bored or something? Scientists have discovered that Prozac, the antidepressant taken by millions of people around the world, may stimulate the growth of brain tumors by blocking the body’s natural ability to kill cancer cells. http://www.mercola.com/2002/apr/13/prozac_tumors.htm Diva

Response:

Wish they’d do these studies before they released the drugs on the public. LizB

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Should we correspond privately and not subject ASD to menus etc. or would you like it on the board?

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If we don’t post here, you’ll lose your targets won’t you? Then you’ll have to find someone else to follow around and make smart alect remarks to. Melissa

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Should we correspond privately and not subject ASD to menus etc. or would you like it on the board?

Response:

That’s what we love about you Rosie, just cut right to the chase and point out how stupid we are

theresa, hon, that is supportive. rosie

Response:

Should we correspond privately and not subject ASD to menus etc. or would you like it on the board? I’m really flattered that you’d invite me to a challenge and would like to participate. I started today. Thanks Melissa! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hey Carol…how about we go at this "Week at 1200" challenge together? My weight is up a tad, and I could use the discipline of the 1200 to get my brain back in the "Good Choices" mode. I was thinking of starting on Monday… Melissa 140/121/Back under 120 That was for Liz and a few others who have posted about mood altering drugs. I don’t do much private emailing any more. While we’re there I have been off Xanex for a good part of the year. Last week i was supposed to have major dental work done without a needle so I hunted up a single Xanex. The dentist decided not to proceed and my Xanex had settled in. I walked home feeling totally drunk and had no idea how awful that drug made me feel as I used to take it at bedtime. Jay Jay, I’ve neither lonely nor bored. Sometimes i feel chatty. I have a stack of books to study and a good DVD to watch this rainy day and am cooking ahead for my "dig your-claws in week at 1200 calories. Periodically I get a page of links from Dr. Mercola on health, food and medicine and like to post stuff of interest. What’s up with you lately? You seem a bit cranky this week. Off topic? What’s up with the slew of wacked out posts today? You lonely and bored or something? Scientists have discovered that Prozac, the antidepressant taken by millions of people around the world, may stimulate the growth of brain tumors by blocking the body’s natural ability to kill cancer cells. http://www.mercola.com/2002/apr/13/prozac_tumors.htm Diva

Response:

Hey Carol…how about we go at this "Week at 1200" challenge together? My weight is up a tad, and I could use the discipline of the 1200 to get my brain back in the "Good Choices" mode. I was thinking of starting on Monday… Melissa 140/121/Back under 120

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – That was for Liz and a few others who have posted about mood altering drugs. I don’t do much private emailing any more. While we’re there I have been off Xanex for a good part of the year. Last week i was supposed to have major dental work done without a needle so I hunted up a single Xanex. The dentist decided not to proceed and my Xanex had settled in. I walked home feeling totally drunk and had no idea how awful that drug made me feel as I used to take it at bedtime. Jay Jay, I’ve neither lonely nor bored. Sometimes i feel chatty. I have a stack of books to study and a good DVD to watch this rainy day and am cooking ahead for my "dig your-claws in week at 1200 calories. Periodically I get a page of links from Dr. Mercola on health, food and medicine and like to post stuff of interest. What’s up with you lately? You seem a bit cranky this week. Off topic? What’s up with the slew of wacked out posts today? You lonely and bored or something? Scientists have discovered that Prozac, the antidepressant taken by millions of people around the world, may stimulate the growth of brain tumors by blocking the body’s natural ability to kill cancer cells. http://www.mercola.com/2002/apr/13/prozac_tumors.htm Diva

Response:

That was for Liz and a few others who have posted about mood altering drugs. I don’t do much private emailing any more. While we’re there I have been off Xanex for a good part of the year. Last week i was supposed to have major dental work done without a needle so I hunted up a single Xanex. The dentist decided not to proceed and my Xanex had settled in. I walked home feeling totally drunk and had no idea how awful that drug made me feel as I used to take it at bedtime. Jay Jay, I’ve neither lonely nor bored. Sometimes i feel chatty. I have a stack of books to study and a good DVD to watch this rainy day and am cooking ahead for my "dig your-claws in week at 1200 calories. Periodically I get a page of links from Dr. Mercola on health, food and medicine and like to post stuff of interest. What’s up with you lately? You seem a bit cranky this week. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Off topic? What’s up with the slew of wacked out posts today? You lonely and bored or something? Scientists have discovered that Prozac, the antidepressant taken by millions of people around the world, may stimulate the growth of brain tumors by blocking the body’s natural ability to kill cancer cells. http://www.mercola.com/2002/apr/13/prozac_tumors.htm Diva

Response:

If that’s how he worded it, it’s pretty funny! Kind of unfortunate, though. On a more serious note, IF this is true, wonder if it’s similar for Zoloft? Wish they’d do these studies before they released the drugs on the public. LizB

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – "The study examined the effects of Prozac and other antidepressants on a group of tumor cells growing in a test tube. The researchers found that the drug prevented the cancer cells from committing "suicide", thereby leading to a more vigorous growth of the tumors." I don’t understand what they are trying to stay. Since they are keeping cancer cells happy, it is causing them to live a full life or propagate?

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