A new study conducted at the University of Michigan Medical School indicates that use of antacids to control acid reflux may improve survival rates of head and neck cancer patients. Acid reflux, more commonly referred to as heartburn, is a side effect associated with chemotherapy or radiation treatments. According to study author Dr. Silvana Papagerakis, patients taking one of two types of antacids, proton pump inhibitors and histamine 2 blockers, had a lower risk of death (45% and 33% respectively). While further research aimed at understanding exactly how antacids improve survival is still to be undertaken, Dr. Papagerakis states that "these medications may be more beneficial to the patients than just controlling side effects."
To read more about this study, click here.
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