Cancer patients must speak to their doctor before taking weight-loss jabs, a British charity has warned, amid a rise in people seeking help over whether they can take them.
Macmillan Cancer Support said that while “quick fixes” may seem appealing, there is currently not enough evidence over how the drugs might affect anti-cancer treatments.
It said that more research is needed, but that it was already known the drugs may affect how other medicines are absorbed by the body.
This may include some anti-cancer drugs, it said.
The organisation’s national clinical adviser Dr Owen Carter said: “Recently, we have seen a noticeable increase in calls to Macmillan’s free support line and a flurry of messages on our peer-to-peer online community about weight-loss drugs.
“We know that cancer affects everybody differently and it’s understandable that lots of people are interested in new drugs which accelerate weight loss, particularly if they want to manage their weight before or after treatment for cancer.
“While ‘quick fixes’ may seem attractive, we simply do not know enough about the long-term impact of these weight-loss medications to recommend them if they’re not prescribed by a specialist.
“Additionally, certain weight-loss medications carry warnings about a potential link with thyroid cancer.
“However, we know that eating well and staying as active as possible are proven to help people feel better, increase their energy levels and strengthen their immune systems, which can help them to manage their weight and cope better with cancer treatment.
“If you have questions about cancer, including about weight-loss drugs, we urge you to speak to your GP [general practitioner] or call the Macmillan support line [in Britain].
The charity said that it has now published new information on its website about the weight-loss drugs and cancer. – PA Media/dpa
