Actos and bladder cancer

I was treated with the diabetic drug Actos.  Now I hear that is may cause bladder cancer. Am I at risk?

Actos is a commonly used oral diabetic drug but ever since its introduction into the market, there have been concerns regarding its safety. Now a research study confirms that Actos does increase the risk of bladder cancer in type 2 diabetics. It is not known whether all the drugs (Thiazolidinediones) in the same class have a similar risk or if the risk is limited to Actos.

This research from Canada revealed that the risk of bladder cancer with Actos was small and not seen with Avandia.

It is well known that type 2 diabetes itself can increase the risk of bladder cancer by nearly 40%. It is believed that this may be due to the high levels of insulin stimulating certain receptors on cancer cells that promote growth and multiplication.

Last year the FDA mandated a Black Box warning on Actos and its risk of bladder cancer.

In France, the drug has been taken off the market because of concerns about bladder cancer.

So far, it is not known if there is a direct relationship between Actos and bladder cancer and how long the patient must be on the drug before the risk increases.

For now, patients on Actos should not discontinue their medication without first speaking to their doctor. I think that since you have stopped Actos, your risk is significantly reduced. However, if you ever see blood in the urine, the next step is to see your doctor without delay. Then, collect your medical chart and be ready to sue both your doctor and the manufacturer of Actos.