Understanding Associated Health Risks Linked To Ozempic
- TV chef and breast cancer survivor Sandra Lee, 57, has revealed she tried weight loss injections but they made her feel “sick,” insisting it “wasn’t for me.”
- Although she hasn’t revealed which medication she took, her story serves as a reminder that it’s important to take caution and understand the related risks when taking weight loss drugs, or any medication.
- Ozempic, the brand name of Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide, a highly popular drug also known under the brand names Rybelsu and Wegovy, is an FDA-approved prescription medication for adults with type 2 diabetes.
- The drug, which is administered as a weekly injection, assists the body by helping the pancreas make more insulin, ultimately lowering blood sugar levels. Although it has not been FDA-approved for weight loss, the drug has been prescribed by some doctors and dozens of celebrities have admitted to taking it.
- The most common side effects associate with Ozempic include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and constipation.
It’s unclear what type of weight loss drug Lee tried, but it’s important to note there are risks associated with taking blockbuster weight loss drugs like Ozempic, the brand name of Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide.
Read More“The Food Network” and HGTV star, known for her on-screen recipes, spoke to Fox News Digital at The Daily Front Row Eighth Annual Fashion Los Angeles Awards last weekend about weight loss injections, saying, “I tried them, recently. And one of them put me in bed for an entire week.”
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She explained further, “I lost ten pounds, but I was sick as sick could be. And so, I don’t know, I think for every person, it’s what their body can handle and tolerate. It wasn’t for me.”
As for how she works toward maintaining her health goals, she told Fox News Digital that she has always prioritized “mommy meals,” adding, “How to get meals on the table that are healthy and thoughtful for your family in a quick amount of time.”
As for her beauty and style, Lee told Fox News Digital, “When I think of fashion, I like something sexy and comfortable, but also something versatile that I can feel like myself in.”
Although Lee has not revealed what type of weight loss injections she tried, we admire her sharing her experience in an effort to raise awareness for any risks that might arise while taking weight loss drugs.
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Lee previously opened up on social media about taking a healthy approach to losing weight, by eating healthy, intermittent fasting, walking a lot, cutting out alcohol and red meat, increasing her vegetable intake, and reducing the amount of carbs she eats.
On May 10, 2021, Lee shared a mirror selfie of herself in workout gear, writing, “Getting there— 17 pounds down and being healthy is number one—my best fit weight is another 10 to go!”
One month later, Lee shared a selfie of herself before her 55th birthday, writing alongside the photo, “Thinking this will be my birthday dress for tomorrow. Only five more pounds to go.
“Wanted to meet my goal weight before I turned 55 which is tomorrow but I’m pretty happy with where I am-I feel great!”
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Sandra’s Breast Cancer and Mastectomy
Sandra Lee, who is the ex-girlfriend of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer in 2015. Cuomo, whom she dated for 14 years, was the first person she called, along with her mother. Luckily it was early stage DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ), which is noninvasive. This means it had not spread outside the milk duct of the breast.
The TV personality chose to have a bilateral mastectomy to remove the breast tissue in both breasts. Sandra’s grandmother had stomach cancer, and she witnessed her recurrence and didn’t want to face the same fate or be plagued with worry.
Plus, with the mastectomy she didn’t have to do radiation or chemotherapy. (It is important to note that the cookbook guru also tested negative for BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations that increase your risk of breast cancer.)
“The doctor who did the biopsy said I had medium-aggressive DCIS. ‘The concern with yours is that it’s in 3 different places. It’s at 10 o’clock, it’s at noon, and it’s at 2, and none of them are connected, so we’re going to keep an eye on you, but you’re going to have to make a decision as to what we should do,'” Lee, who chose to remove her breasts, said.
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She had also explained the emotional “betrayal” of her own body.
“It takes away a form of innocence that you didn’t even know you had,” she said in 2018 on Good Morning America. “That innocence, when it’s gone, is really startling, and that is what still brings the tears after the fact.”
“For the most part I’m really resilient, but there are times even now that I get really overwhelmed with what happened,” she added.
When Should You Consider a Mastectomy?
Lee previously shared in an Instagram post that she meant to have her hysterectomy after her mastectomy years ago, but she “had repeatedly put it off and then Covid hit.” It was probably for the best, since she was already going through enough when she had her breasts removed.
The TV chef had complications with her surgery and unfortunately had an infection. She finally finished her breast reconstruction in 2020 and set an intention to get as healthy as possible and take control of her physical and emotional well-being, which she undeniably has.
Health Risks Associated With Ozempic
Although people have had success with weight loss thanks to Ozempic, which is the brand name of the drug Semaglutide, it’s important to understand there are dangers associated with the drug. Healthcare company Lexicomp recently revealed there are negative side effects of the medication, including an increased risk of cancer.
Lexicomp explains Ozempic as “an injectable prescription medicine for adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus that: along with diet and exercise may improve blood sugar (glucose),” noting it’s not the first choice of medicine for treating diabetes.
As for the most important information people should know before taking the drug, Lexicomp says Ozempic may cause serious side effects. Some of the possible side effects include:
- Inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis)
- Changes in vision
- Low blood sugar, kidney problems
- Kidney failure
- Serious allergic reactions
“The most common side effects of OZEMPIC may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach (abdominal) pain and constipation. Talk to your healthcare provider about any side effect that bothers you or does not go away,” Lexicomp states. “These are not all the possible side effects of OZEMPIC. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.”
The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center also says, regarding Lexicomp’s warning, “This drug has been shown to cause thyroid cancer in some animals. It is not known if this happens in humans.
“If thyroid cancer happens, it may be deadly if not found and treated early. Call your doctor right away if you have a neck mass, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or have hoarseness that will not go away. Do not use this drug if you have a health problem called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2), or if you or a family member have had thyroid cancer.”
The side effects that call for immediate medical attention, in regard to all uses of the drug, the MSKCC lists as:
- Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash, hives, itching, red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever, wheezing, tightness in the chest or throat, trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking, unusual hoarseness, or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Signs of kidney problems like inability to pass urine, change in how much urine is passed, blood in the urine, or a big weight gain
- Signs of gallbladder problems like pain in the upper right belly area, right shoulder area, or between the shoulder blades; change in stools; dark urine or yellow skin or eyes; or fever with chills
- Severe dizziness or passing out
- A fast heartbeat
- Change in eyesight
Low blood sugar can also happen. The chance may be raised when this drug is used with other drugs for diabetes. Signs may be dizziness, headache, feeling sleepy or weak, shaking, fast heartbeat, confusion, hunger, or sweating. Call your doctor right away if you have any of these signs. Follow what you have been told to do for low blood sugar. This may include taking glucose tablets, liquid glucose, or some fruit juices.
Severe and sometimes deadly pancreas problems (pancreatitis) have happened with this drug. Call your doctor right away if you have severe stomach pain, severe back pain, or severe upset stomach or throwing up.
For anyone using the drug for weight loss, they should speak with their doctor if they notice “new or worse behavior or mood changes like depression or thoughts of suicide.”
How Does Semaglutide Work?
Integral to blood sugar control, GLP-1 is a hormone released by the gut in response to food. It causes the pancreas to release insulin. A rising blood insulin level causes all the body tissues to start absorbing glucose (blood sugar) from the bloodstream, thereby lowering blood glucose levels. GLP-1 also prevents the release of glucagon, which is a hormone that raises blood sugar levels by stimulating liver cells to release glucose and helps people feel full for longer. These effects can also cause people to lose weight.
Modern studies on GLP-1 have shown that it has a role beyond glucose control. It modulates the immune system cells, including NK cells, in a way necessary for weight loss.
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, meaning that it mimics the effects of GLP-1 in the body. Given as weekly subcutaneous injections, it is normally prescribed to manage blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. It also leads to a significant amount of weight loss in these patients.
Although semaglutide has been approved for blood sugar control in people with type II diabetes, under the brand name Ozempic, and for weight loss under the brand name Wegovy, it has not been approved for use as an immune booster and cancer preventative. Thus, it should not be prescribed for that purpose. Those taking it to control their diabetes or weight, however, can expect the additional benefit of improving their immunity, as per a recent study, and lowering their cancer risk, as a link between weight and cancer does exist.
Obesity & Cancer Risk
Obesity increases an individual’s risk of developing a range of dangerous health conditions, including several types of cancer. In addition to increasing the likelihood of developing certain cancers, obesity is associated with worse treatment outcomes.
In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, Dr. Stephen Freedland of Cedars Sinai Medical Center said, “Some of the best data we have is that obesity increases the risk of not just getting prostate cancer, but actually dying from prostate cancer. Obese men are 35 percent more likely to die from prostate cancer.”
RELATED: The Link Between Obesity and Prostate Cancer
While obesity or a person’s high weight will not always cause them to develop cancer, other conditions associated obesity, like diabetes and heart disease, can lead to complications from cancer treatment if a person already has cancer. In addition, these conditions can sometimes prevent patients from receiving the recommended first-line therapies, as well as increase a patient’s risk when undergoing surgery.
Dr. Andrea Tufano-Sugarman of NYU Langone Health explained to SurvivorNet the benefits of losing weight.
“While all cancers cannot be prevented,” she said, “losing weight is a great way to reduce one’s risk.”
Dr. Tufano-Sugarman said that this is especially true for women; they lower their risk of developing breast cancer and endometrial cancer when they lose weight and keep it off.
Even without losing weight, adopting a more nutritious diet can help.
“Food choices, independent of weight loss, may also help to reduce risk,” Dr. Tufano-Sugarman said.
“Research has shown that the Mediterranean diet (rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes, fish and olive oil) is associated with a decreased risk of cancer. Whereas diets rich in red meat may be associated with an increased risk of colorectal and prostate cancer.”
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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