Cancer patients have been advised to consult their doctor before taking any weight-loss jabs.
Macmillan Cancer Support has issued this advisory following a surge in calls by cancer patients asking whether they can take fat loss jabs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro.
The charity said that ‘quick fixes’ may seem appealing, but there is not enough evidence over how the drugs might affect anti-cancer treatments.
It pointed out that there was already evidence that the drugs may affect how other medicines are absorbed by the body.
This may include cancer drugs, it added.
The weight-loss injections make a person feel fuller and reduce their appetite, and this also slows down the rate at which medicines are absorbed by the gut.
Dr Owen Carter, national clinical adviser at Macmillan Cancer Support, claimed there has been an increase in calls to its free support line about weight-loss drugs.
He said the interest of the people in the new weight loss drugs was understandable, but pointed out that "certain weight loss medications carry warnings about a potential link with thyroid cancer."
He advised people to eat well and stay active, as it is proven that it helps "increase their energy levels and strengthen their immune systems, which can help them to manage their weight and cope better with cancer treatment."
Next week, NHS GPs will be able to prescribe Mounjaro, a tirzepatide drug made by Eli Lilly.
They will be administered only to patients who have a body mass index (BMI) over 35 and have an obesity-related illness such as high blood pressure.
The other fat-loss medication Ozempic is prescribed by GPs only to type 2 diabetes patients.
Due to such restrictions, many Britons are accessing them privately.
