Could a pill used for abortions also help prevent breast cancer?
A group of international doctors and scientists thinks so — and they’re frustrated that stigma is stopping the research.
The drug in question, mifepristone, is well-known as part of a two-step process for ending early pregnancies.
But here’s the twist: three separate studies — in 2008, 2022, and 2024 — suggest it could also slow the growth of cancerous breast cells.
It does this by blocking progesterone, a hormone that fuels many breast cancers.
Why Isn’t Big Pharma Testing It?
“It is deeply disappointing that the successful application of mifepristone in one area is hindering more research into other uses.”
The experts write this in The Lancet. Translation: its association with abortion is scaring companies away.
That’s a problem. Breast cancer kills around 670,000 women a year globally.
For women at high risk — like BRCA gene carriers — current preventive options are limited to invasive surgery or drugs with low success rates.
Cancer charities agree it’s time to take a closer look.
“We need to explore all avenues, including existing drugs,” says Dr. Simon Vincent of Breast Cancer Now.
If proven effective, mifepristone could be a game-changer.
The question is, will stigma keep it in the shadows — or will science get the last word?
