Have just had my 6 monthly CA125 check last week, and so am delighted with that. If you don't know me, have a look at my story. It appears that ibuprofen works as an anti-cancer medication for me. NSAIDs like ibuprofen, and also aspirin, have been proven to have a general anti-cancer effect in the lab and in clinical reviews of those taking these drugs regularly for other reasons - see my previous posts. Aspirin is well known for its anti-cancer effect. See the cancer research uk website.
Unfortunately it does not work for all cancer patients by any means, and it appears to work best if you are in full remission, ie no evidence of disease. Research is being done at a slow rate with aspirin, and a little with other NSAIDs I believe. Incidentally I am a retired GP.
I came upon this research by chance, and was already on an NSAID for another reason, by chance, initially after my 2nd course of chemo. Take a look at my story. I just wish it worked for more people. I feel I have been very fortunate that I came across this research in 2011, and that ibuprofen appears to work for me.
My last dose of chemo was in November 2014. The relapse had come about, in my opinion, because I was off ibuprofen for 10.5 weeks in March to May 2013 (see previous posts). I am on no other anti-cancer medication. I will be seeing my oncologist next week, but the CA125 result is the main thing, as it is a good marker for my disease. I keep well, playing tennis, hillwalking, etc as usual. I am now age 70, and enjoying my first grandchild, who is now 8 months old. And my son got married at the weekend, and so we now have 2 step-grandchildren. Lovely wedding on the island of Arran.
All best wishes to everyone on this site.
Eileen xx
Written by
drdu
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Hi Eileen, so pleased for you!! Ibuprofen certainly seems to be working. Thanks for sharing your story. I am hoping to try either aspirin or Ibuprofen when I finish Avastin (soon). I am a bit nervous about gastric problems (had before) but am already on Omeprazole.
Good to hear about wonderful life events like a new baby & a wedding!
Thank you. I wouldn't take ibuprofen as well, as could irritate your stomach. See my previous posts. I take omeprazole along with ibuprofen to protect my stomach. Glad you feeling well.
Check up was ok. There are a couple of small spots they’re watching, but this scan was the same as the last one. I guess that means either I’m cancer free or stable with minuscule disease. The Celebrex and Tamoxifen seem to be doing their job.
That's good news Patty. Very glad for you. All best wishes.
Eileen x
That is fantastic news for you, you have really sorted the beast out. Congratulations on the happy events in your life, we appreciate them more when we have been unwell, all the very best
Thank you. Yes it is interesting, and somewhat neglected by the oncologists in nhs. I gather that the private cancer clinic in London whose name escapes me uses an anti-inflammatory drug, like ibuprofen in its cocktail of treatment. See my previous posts.
hi Eileen is the 75mg disprin available without prescription, I checked the disprin i have and its 300mg I live in Ireland, Thank you for this it is worth a try I have never had any health implications up to now I am 36 years old so I will give it ago to see will it work Thnaks again
Great and exciting news for you 🎉🎉and thank you for all of your positive and helpful information. It is so inspirational. My last pet scan in May said "complete response to therapy" with no sign of cancer anywhere . I am now having Caelyx only as a maintenance treatment for the time being . Meanwhile I am taking ibuprofen 400mg twice a day and Nexium 40 mg . My oncologist is happy for me to have it and I have no doubt it is helping. When I am finished with the Caelyx as maintenance I will take three Ibuprophen.
Seem to have lost my reply! So here it is again. Sounds excellent re ibuprofen and Nexium. Hope the ibuprofen works well for you. Glad your oncologist is happy about it.
Thank you for the information. It all seems to make sense and as you say it may work for some but not others. Looking at your previous posts it’s probably not recommended if avastin is being used too but once completed it would be a good ‘maintenance’ drug to try with Omeprazole. Best of luck for the future and thanks again xx
I know of people who have taken it with avastin, but go by what your oncologist says. Many thanks, and best of luck to you.
Eileen xx
I was already taking Asprin and had been doing so for 6 years at diagnosis, my chemo team told me to discontinue whilst receiving treatment as Asprin could interfere with the Chemo effect. I would strongly urge anyone considering taking a NSAID to seek professional advise beforehand.
I totally agree, and have always said to speak to your oncologist or GP before trying aspirin or an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen. I didn't take anything like that while having major chemo at any time, as chemo is the main treatment, and aspirin etc will not add anything at that point, and in combination with chemo could cause side effects like stomach bleeding etc.
Amazing I have followed you last year or so. I’m in remission now and I’m going to do it. What harm can it do...!? I have joint pain so it may help from letrozole.
Hope u don’t mind me asking what daily dose do u take?
I have seen these studies going around Facebook 🙏🙏🙏
I take ibuprofen 400mg tablets, 1 tablet three times a day with or after food. But you need omeprazole 20mg daily, or similar to protect your stomach. And check with your oncologist or GP before starting anything, as I don't know your medical history and they do, and there could be some reason there for you not to take it.
P.S. am interested and pleased that info going around Facebook. I am not on Facebook myself though my husband is in a very quiet way. A friend of mine may have put stuff on there, as she is another with this disease, and more savvy on social media than me, and so I said to her to go ahead and get the information out there.
No, never. Have been lucky enough to get full remission after each of the 3 major chemo courses I have had: Carbo/taxol, which I had twice, though cisplatin had to be substituted for carboplatin half way through the second course due to allergic reaction. And the 3rd chemo course was cisplatin/caelyx.
Thanks for the update, you’re an inspiration. I did start taking aspirin when I was NED after first line but abandoned it when I recurred after only three months. I’m thinking I didn’t give it a chance and seiously thinking about trying again.
I think that it needs to be started fairly soon after chemo, ie whenever the chemo is out of your system, ie when your next dose of chemo would have been due, or 2-3 days after. But research has shown it doesn't work for everybody, unfortunately. Appears to be a gene which not everybody has.
Fantastic news, and it does make you wonder whether the oncologists sometimes overlook the simple drugs. Must be worth a trial at least. I've read that beta blockers can also help some cancer patients and I wonder whether you take them as well?
Thank you. Yes, see my previous posts. I think many oncologists are rather in thrall to the drug companies which provide funding so that oncologists can trial their new drug, often a parp inhibitor. Parp inhibitors certainly have their place, but it is difficult to get funding to do large trials of cheap drugs which are out of patent and not making much money for anybody, in contrast to the fancy clever parp inhibitors. It is very interesting that it is a private clinic in London that is using the cheap drugs. I forget its name, but it has been mentioned before in my posts, and it uses cheap drugs like naproxen (an NSAID), metformin, a cheap antibiotic, perhaps a statin like simvastatin and I believe a beta-blocker. And they will be making a good profit providing these cheap drugs at expense to desperate cancer patients, while NHS oncologists can't afford or won't do proper trials.
I have not looked closely at these other drugs, apart from metformin to some extent, but they probably all do have some anti-cancer effect or these private oncologists would not be trying them. There is certainly quite good evidence for metformin that I am aware of, and so probably there is for the others. I happen to have started simvastatin about 9 months ago as my cholesterol was a bit high and so my GP started me on it.
Keep going Eileen, and grats on your grandchild. I keep trying to think of a good window of opportunity to start on regular Ibuprofen again (did it for a few weeks after the initial surgery but not since). Maybe some day...
I’m sure you know I have been following your progress for a good while and it gave me such heart to think that my long time prescribed simple little aspirin may have kept me at NED for 5years. It was prescribed many years ago along with blood pressure tablets to prevent strokes. I’m so happy to hear your good news and thank you for posting . Now I’m back on the bandwagon again I will be glad I’m still taking it.
I take ibuprofen 400mg tablets, 1 tablet 3 times a day with or after food. See above. Need to take omeprazole 20mg daily or similar to protect your stomach. You need to discuss taking it with your oncologist or GP. And don't take it when on major chemo course, which I think you are at the moment.
That’s wonderful news! My problem is that I can’t take aspirin or ibuprofen because I’m prone to stomach ulcers. Currently I’m on avastin and doxil and I hate the side effects. I get my CA-125 tested next Friday and I’m praying for good results. Continued good luck to you!
Thanks Eileen for the response. I have read your post with interest and would have liked to give this a try. Not sure if they kidney function will improve-chemo caused the low count. Was within normal range befor treatments.
Hi Eileen! I am just reading this thread and it’s so wonderful that Ibuprofen has worked for you. My numbers have just doubled these past weeks ... went from 12 to 22 and now at 44. I am wondering if this could work for me. I have pain in my abdomen so am thinking I also have inflammation too. I am going to try this and thanks for all of your updates. I hope you are still doing well!
Yes I am very well thanks Cyndyc. Good luck with ibuprofen. Be sure to take omeprazole 20mg daily or similar with it, and consult with your doctor before starting ibuprofen.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
