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Rachel V Thomas

Can Wegovy Improve Survival In Breast Cancer Patients? This Study Suggests It Could

GLP-1 agonist drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy, may not only help treat obesity and diabetes but also improve survival among breast cancer patients, according to a new study.

The research published in JAMA Network Open suggests that the GLP-1 agonist drugs can lower deaths in breast cancer patients as well as cut down the risk of recurrence of the deadly cancer.

Breast cancer patients who used GLP-1 RA had an overall lower risk of death from any cause over a 10-year follow-up period.

Similarly, breast cancer survivors who used GLP1-RAs for diabetes or obesity had a significantly lower risk of their cancer returning over 10 years following their initial treatment.

"This study suggests that GLP-1 drugs may offer protective benefits, potentially improving survival and recurrence risk in some female patients with breast cancer—whether this is related to weight control, improved cardiovascular health, or other mechanisms remains to be studied," said study senior author Bernard F. Fuemmeler, Chair in Cancer Research at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center. 

The findings were based on a retrospective cohort study examining the electronic health records of more than 840,000 breast cancer patients who were diagnosed between 2006 and 2023 and also were obese or had type 2 diabetes.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/world-hypertension-day-2026-why-switching-salt-may-be-indias-simplest-weapon-against-high-blood-pressure-article-154335751" data-type="tilCustomLink">World Hypertension Day 2026: Why Switching Salt May Be India’s Simplest Weapon Against High Blood Pressure</a>

Widely hailed as a medical breakthrough, the GLP-1s (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) act like the gut hormones that regulate appetite and blood sugar.

It acts specifically on obesity and diabetes — well-established risk factors that significantly elevate the risk of breast cancer progression and recurrence. 

GLP-1 medications help lower the risk of breast cancer by promoting weight loss and decreasing circulating tumor activity. It also lowers blood sugar. 

Studies have showed that people taking GLP-1s also experience fewer chemo side effects. They were less likely to have anemia, blood clots in veins, low levels of white blood cells called neutrophils, low blood platelet count, sepsis, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, cardiomyopathy, and neuropathy after chemotherapy.

However, the Virginia Commonwealth University study researchers noted that further studies are needed to understand the biological mechanisms, if any, between GLP-1 RAs and breast cancer outcomes. 

Read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/nutrition/high-blood-pressure-daily-soy-and-legume-intake-may-help-lower-the-risk-study-article-154276588" data-type="tilCustomLink">High Blood Pressure? Daily Soy And Legume Intake May Help Lower The Risk: Study</a>

Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer worldwide, accounting for over 2.3 million new cases annually.

According to the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), it is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women, resulting in roughly 670,000 deaths globally each year.

It is also one of the most common cancers among women in the US, and accounts for nearly one-third of all female cancer cases.

The average risk of a woman in the US developing breast cancer sometime in her life is about 13 per cent.

Breast cancer patients who are also obese or have type 2 diabetes experience more aggressive cancer growth and worse outcomes. Prior studies have shown that weight loss treatment and surgery following a breast cancer diagnosis are associated with improved heart health and increased survival.

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Breast Cancer and Wegivy

Ozempic

wegovy

mounjaro

weight loss drug

GLP 1 drugs

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GLP-1 agonist drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Wegovy, may not only help treat obesity and diabetes but also improve survival among breast cancer patients, according to a new study.The research published in JAMA Network Open suggests that the GLP-1 agonist drugs can lower deaths in breast cancer patients as well as cut down the risk of recurrence of the deadly cancer. Breast cancer patients who used GLP-1 RA had an overall lower risk of death from any cause over a 10-year follow-up period.Similarly, breast cancer survivors who used GLP1-RAs for diabetes or obesity had a significantly lower risk of their cancer returning over 10 years following their initial treatment."This study suggests that GLP-1 drugs may offer protective benefits, potentially improving survival and recurrence risk in some female patients with breast cancer—whether this is related to weight control, improved cardiovascular health, or other mechanisms remains to be studied," said study senior author Bernard F. Fuemmeler, Chair in Cancer Research at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center. The findings were based on a retrospective cohort study examining the electronic health records of more than 840,000 breast cancer patients who were diagnosed between 2006 and 2023 and also were obese or had type 2 diabetes. GLP-1 Drugs And Breast CancerAlso read: World Hypertension Day 2026: Why Switching Salt May Be India’s Simplest Weapon Against High Blood PressureWidely hailed as a medical breakthrough, the GLP-1s (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) act like the gut hormones that regulate appetite and blood sugar.It acts specifically on obesity and diabetes — well-established risk factors that significantly elevate the risk of breast cancer progression and recurrence. GLP-1 medications help lower the risk of breast cancer by promoting weight loss and decreasing circulating tumor activity. It also lowers blood sugar. Studies have showed that people taking GLP-1s also experience fewer chemo side effects. They were less likely to have anemia, blood clots in veins, low levels of white blood cells called neutrophils, low blood platelet count, sepsis, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, cardiomyopathy, and neuropathy after chemotherapy.However, the Virginia Commonwealth University study researchers noted that further studies are needed to understand the biological mechanisms, if any, between GLP-1 RAs and breast cancer outcomes.  Global Burden of Breast CancerRead: High Blood Pressure? Daily Soy And Legume Intake May Help Lower The Risk: StudyBreast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer worldwide, accounting for over 2.3 million new cases annually.According to the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), it is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women, resulting in roughly 670,000 deaths globally each year. It is also one of the most common cancers among women in the US, and accounts for nearly one-third of all female cancer cases. The average risk of a woman in the US developing breast cancer sometime in her life is about 13 per cent. Breast cancer patients who are also obese or have type 2 diabetes experience more aggressive cancer growth and worse outcomes. Prior studies have shown that weight loss treatment and surgery following a breast cancer diagnosis are associated with improved heart health and increased survival.

can wegovy improve survival in breast cancer patients? this study suggests it could

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