Aspirin might reduce chance of cancer death

According to a new research published within the Lancet, low-dose aspirin might significantly decrease the chance of dying from cancer. Eight previous studies were reviewed for this research. All told, about 25,500 patients' information was included. This research is incredibly promising. There isn't really yet enough details for doctors to make a decision on aspirin therapy. Article resource - Study links aspirin and cancer survival - don't start pills yet.



Cancer risks going down with aspirin



The meta-study published today was completed by a team of British researchers. They found that 75 milligrams of aspirin taken day-to-day for five years or more reduces the risk of dying from cancer. There was a 20 percent decrease in dying from lung and prostate cancer, a 54 percent decrease in gastrointestinal cancers and a 60 percent decrease in esophageal cancers. These benefits appeared after daily low-dose aspirin had been taken for between five and 20 years. The research wasn’t about cancer initially. It was about the impact that taking daily aspirin has on cardiovascular effect.



Not recommending day-to-day aspirin



There was a dramatic improvement with those surviving cancers with the drug. However, it's not advised that you do it regular still. There were not too many subjects within the meta-study and “proof of principle” has to be found with more studies. Thinning of blood, heartburn, loss of balance and ringing in the ears can all be caused by aspirin although it is considered relatively safe. "I surely think we wouldn't want for making any treatment decisions based on this research," based on the provost of the University of TX M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Dr. Raymond DuBois. Dr. Raymond DuBois said, "I surely think we wouldn't want for making any treatment decisions based on this study.” He is from the University of TX M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.



Checking out the aspirin-cancer research a little more



There were two studies done that showed an improved cancer success rate with aspirin. Or course, the exact same group of researchers in Britain did both of the studies. These two studies, however, still leave significant gaps. Only 33 percent were women within the main meta-analysis. That is out of 25,000 subjects. Less common cancers like brain and stomach cancer with low-dose aspirin were not tested at all with the data. Finally, since the studies were initially intended to measure the benefit of aspirin on the heart, the subjects may be from a statistically skewed group of patients.



In the end, this aspirin cancer link is an exciting and possibly useful one, but there's not almost enough research yet to safely recommend it as a treatment for many people.

Details from

washingtonpost.com


businessweek.com