Antacids may improve head and neck cancer survival

Using antacids to control acid reflux may improve head and neck cancer patients' chances of survival, a new study published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research suggests.
The researchers examined the effects that two types of antacids — proton pump inhibitors and histamine 2 blockers — had on head and neck cancer patients.
Acid reflux — commonly known as heartburn — is a common side effect of chemotherapy or radiation treatment. Compared to patients who did not take antacids, those who took proton pump inhibitors had a 45 percent lower risk of death, according to the researchers. They also found that those who took histamine 2 blockers had a 33 percent lower risk of death.