Beta blockers
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Beta blockers

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Beta blockers

  • Post
    • September 27, 2011 at 10:10 am
    patanderson
    Participant

    Does anybody have thoughts on the recent study showing much better survival for patients on beta blockers?

    Does anybody have thoughts on the recent study showing much better survival for patients on beta blockers?

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  • Replies
      • September 27, 2011 at 10:33 am
      benp
      Participant

      An article on the topic is here;

      http://www.docguide.com/beta-blockers-may-improve-survival-time-patients-melanoma?tsid=5

      I don't have much to add as to the physiology/biology of it, but I do know that if you data-mine a huge database, you are sure to come up with many correlations that are significant at a given confidence level ("spurious correlation"). I.e. correlation does not imply causality. 

      It does seem as if the hypothesis came before the verification via their databases, so that is a good sign! It would be great if it were the case!

      Ben.

      • September 27, 2011 at 10:33 am
      benp
      Participant

      An article on the topic is here;

      http://www.docguide.com/beta-blockers-may-improve-survival-time-patients-melanoma?tsid=5

      I don't have much to add as to the physiology/biology of it, but I do know that if you data-mine a huge database, you are sure to come up with many correlations that are significant at a given confidence level ("spurious correlation"). I.e. correlation does not imply causality. 

      It does seem as if the hypothesis came before the verification via their databases, so that is a good sign! It would be great if it were the case!

      Ben.

      • September 29, 2011 at 5:12 am
      Cynthia C
      Participant

      I find this kind of interesting because I have taken atenolol, a beta blocker, for high blood pressure since shortly before my melanoma diagnosis. I had a 3.1mm Clark's IV ulcerated lower leg lesion with 2 positive (micro) groin nodes. I only lasted 8 or 9 doses of interferon and that's it. No other treatment. This was almost 11 years ago. I've never had a recurrence. Probably coincidence but maybe not.

      Cynthia C

      • September 29, 2011 at 5:12 am
      Cynthia C
      Participant

      I find this kind of interesting because I have taken atenolol, a beta blocker, for high blood pressure since shortly before my melanoma diagnosis. I had a 3.1mm Clark's IV ulcerated lower leg lesion with 2 positive (micro) groin nodes. I only lasted 8 or 9 doses of interferon and that's it. No other treatment. This was almost 11 years ago. I've never had a recurrence. Probably coincidence but maybe not.

      Cynthia C

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