Careful and selected use of antibiotics in the 20th century undoubtedly saved some lives, but far fewer than most people realize. The widespread and largely indiscriminate use of antibiotics, the very common abuse of this class of drugs that we still see, has caused illness and death already and has changed the medical (and possibly 'health') landscape, making it a much more dangerous place. It now appears that detailed accounting of some of this antibiotic damage is beginning to emerge.

A study recently published in the American Journal of Epidemiology set out to look for an association between non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and the use of common medications. Cases of NHL are on the rise, especially in the U.S. where it's most frequently diagnosed in older people. About four percent of cancer deaths are attributable to NHL.

Researchers in Sweden recruited more than 6,000 subjects in Sweden and Denmark; about half were NHL patients. When the subjects' lifetime medication use was examined, researchers found a clear association between NHL risk and the use of antibiotics more than 10 times during adulthood.

In addition, regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen) was "marginally associated" with a higher risk of NHL.

Of course researchers can't conclude that antibiotic or NSAID use may actually cause NHL; it's possible that a patient's unique susceptibility to infections or inflammation (prompting antibiotic and NSAIDs use) might be the root cause. Nevertheless, most of the other medications examined were not associated with NHL risk.

There is a tendency for people to shrug or to benignly think, time will tell. Unfortunately, it will.

There are plenty of vey powerful natural antibiotics available. They do not cause the side effects and adverse effects known to be associated with antibiotic use and their long history of use means that a link with NHL is extremely unlikely. See a naturopathic doctor and avoid pharmaceuticals "like the plague". It's your life.