An Israeli study looked at data from 202,648 adults who used statins to keep their cholesterol in check. The study found that patients were 31% less likely to get cancer – particularly lymphoma, leukemia, and myeloma, when they took their pills regularly. In the women studied, statin use was noticeably related to a lower risk of genital cancers, and for the men the risk of lymphoma was distinctly lowered. It was noted that results were the same whether the patients used hydrophilic statins, like Pravachol, or lipophilic statins including Lipitor.
The study author, Miriam Lutski of the School of Public Health at Tel Aviv University said “It is premature to say doctors should prescribe statins as cancer preventives, but at least this study confirms that statins have a protective effect that goes far beyond just fighting high cholesterol.” Lutski believes further studies are needed to look at a connection between newer statins and cancer risk. She also pointed out that the study did not differentiate the statin-and-cancer risk link for all races. “It is well-known that race may affect cancer. So it would be beneficial to find out if statin use affects, for example, the relatively higher risk of colorectal cancer among African-American males.” Chicago Tribune August 5, 2012