Breast cancer and migraines

November 9, 2008

Patients who suffer from migraine headaches are 30% less likely to develop breast cancer.  It is well established that fluctuating estrogen levels throughout the menstrual cycle can trigger migraine attacks. These fluctuations are reduced during pregnancy and menopause, resulting in cessation of migraine attacks in two thirds of women. At this point it is not clear what common estrogen-based mechanisms are responsible for the reduction of breast cancer risk in migraine sufferers.

Written by
Alexander Mauskop, MD
Continue reading
March 26, 2026
Alternative Therapies
Lidocaine-Based Treatments Offer Another Option for Severe Migraines
This post explains how lidocaine, beyond its traditional use as a local anesthetic, can be given by IV or directly into the middle meningeal artery to help break severe, treatment-resistant migraines, with early studies showing promising relief and generally mild, manageable side effects.
Read article
February 16, 2026
News
Potential big news for the 40 million Americans with migraine.
It is long overue to make triptans available without a prescription, like in the rest of the world.
Read article