Study connects aspirin and cancer survival - don't start pills yet

A new study has found that taking low-dose aspirin could reduce risk of cancer. This study has been published in the Lancet. The research, published today, reviewed eight previous studies involving 25,500 subjects. This research is incredibly promising. There aren’t yet enough details for doctors to make a decision on aspirin therapy. Source of article – Study links aspirin and cancer survival – don’t start pills yet by Money Blog Newz.

Aspirin may be in a position to stop cancer

The meta-study published today was completed by a team of British researchers. They said that taking aspirin each day for five years reduces the chance of cancer being the reason for death. These are 75 milligram tablets. There was a 20 percent decrease in death from lung and prostate cancer, a 54 percent decrease in gastrointestinal cancers and a 60 percent decrease in esophageal cancers. There were daily low-dose aspirin taken by individuals. Between 5 and 20 years was how long each did it. The cardiovascular effects while taking daily aspirin was the original purpose of the study.

Is not smart to begin taking aspirin regular

Researchers do not suggest that you take aspirin daily even though there was lots of improvement on surviving cancers with it. There were not too many subjects in the meta-study and "proof of principle" has to be found with more studies. While aspirin is relatively safe, a day-to-day regimen can cause thinning of the blood, heartburn, loss of balance and ringing within the ears. ”I surely think we wouldn’t want for making any treatment decisions depending on this research,” according to the provost of the University of TX M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Dr. Raymond DuBois. Dr. Raymond DuBois said, “I certainly think we wouldn’t want for making any treatment decisions depending on this study." He is from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Issues with the aspirin-cancer study

There were 2 studies done that showed an improved cancer survival rate with aspirin. Or course, the exact same group of researchers in Britain did both of the studies. These 2 studies, however, nevertheless leave significant spaces. Out of the 25,500 individuals within the main meta-analysis, only 33 percent were women. Less common cancers like brain and stomach cancer with low-dose aspirin weren't tested at all with the data. The group of patients might be statistically skewed since the benefit of aspirin on the heart was what the studies were originally working on.

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

Citations

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/07/AR2010120701602.html

Business Week

businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/647054.html