It is, "I've got good news, and then I've got some really bad news." Ohio State University College of Pharmacy researchers competed a study on Nimesulide, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, and found it may have the ability to prevent breast cancer. Seems like good news -- useful news -- doesn't it. But wait. Nimesulide was banned from clinical use and over-the-counter sales in the United States after it was linked to liver damage and other sometimes fatal side effects.

The researchers explain that Nimesulide blocked an enzyme that causes estrogen-dependent breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Right now, postmenopausal women with estrogen-dependent breast cancer are prescribed aromatase inhibitors, which not only block estrogen production in the breast but also in the rest of the body. This means that the brain and bones, which depend on estrogen too, suffer from lack of estrogen. Whereas, according to the researchers, Nimesulide only blocks estrogen in the breast. Sounds like a better deal because, frankly, no one knows what the long-term effects of estrogen-deprivation on the brain and bones might be for women taking aromatase inhibitors. But what about the liver damage and other sometimes fatal side effects from Nimesulide? Thanks, but no thanks. Just pass me the aspirin and let's both agree that nobody calls anybody in the morning.