Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and survival following breast cancer diagnosis

Abstract

Background: While there is accumulating evidence that use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) decreases breast cancer risk, little is known about the impact of NSAIDs on survival after breast cancer diagnosis. Methods: We assessed whether recent, prediagnostic NSAID use and lifetime cumulative aspirin use before diagnosis were associated with survival among 1,024 women with incident, primary, invasive breast cancer. Results: Recent prediagnostic use of aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen and lifetime use of aspirin up to diagnosis were not associated with either all-cause mortality or breast cancer-specific mortality. Neither dose nor frequency of use was associated with risk. Associations were not different for pre- and postmenopausal women. Conclusion: In our data, prediagnostic NSAID use and lifetime cumulative aspirin use were not associated with breast cancer survival. Impact: Our findings do not support a role of NSAIDs prior to diagnosis in breast cancer survival. ©2011 AACR.