Central Scrutinizer Posted March 28, 2013 Report Share Posted March 28, 2013 Small daily aspirin dose 'cuts cancer risk' By Fergus Walsh Medical correspondent, BBC News Prof Peter Rothwell explains why taking aspirin reduces the risk of dying from cancer A small daily dose of aspirin - 75mg - substantially reduces death rates from a range of common cancers, a study suggests. Research at Oxford University and other centres found that it cut overall cancer deaths by at least a fifth. The study, published in the Lancet, covered some 25,000 patients, mostly from the UK. Experts say the findings show aspirin's benefits often outweighed its associated risk of causing bleeding. Aspirin is already known to cut the risk of heart attack and stroke among those at increased risk. But the protective effects against cardiovascular disease are thought to be small for healthy adults, and aspirin increases the risks of stomach and gut bleeds. However, this latest research shows that when weighing up the risks and benefits of taking aspirin, experts should also consider its protective effect against cancer. Those patients who were given aspirin had a 25% lower risk of death from cancer during the trial period and a 10% reduction in death from any cause compared to patients who were not given the drug. Lasting protection The treatment with aspirin lasted for between four and eight years, but long term-follow-up of around 12,500 patients showed the protective effect continued for 20 years in both men and women. Continue reading the main story “Start Quote We encourage anyone interested in taking aspirin on a regular basis to talk to their GP first†End Quote Ed Young Cancer Research UK Lead researcher Professor Peter Rothwell said the findings might well underestimate the reduction in deaths that would result from longer-term treatment with aspirin. The risk of cancer death was reduced by 20% over 20 years. For individual cancers the reduction was about 40% for bowel cancer, 30% for lung cancer, 10% for prostate cancer and 60% for oesophageal cancer. The reductions in pancreas, stomach and brain cancers were difficult to quantify because of smaller numbers of deaths. There was also not enough data to show an effect on breast or ovarian cancer and the authors suggest this is because there were not enough women in the trials. Large-scale studies investigating the effects on these cancers are under way. Professor Rothwell said he was not urging healthy middle-aged adults to immediately start taking aspirin, but said the evidence on cancer "tips things towards it being well worth it". The benefit in cancer reduction were found from a low daily dose of 75mg. Professor Rothwell said the annual risk of major internal bleeding was about 1 in 1,000 and aspirin roughly doubled that risk. But he said the danger of major bleeding was "very low" in middle age but increased dramatically after 75. Continue reading the main story “Start Quote Aspirin should be thought of in the same context as lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise which can help to preserve health†End Quote Professor Peter Elwood Cardiff University Aspirin: a personal choice for all A sensible time to consider starting daily aspirin use would be between 45-50, continuing for around 25 years, he said. Cancer Research UK described the results as "promising". But Ed Yong, head of health information and evidence, said: "We encourage anyone interested in taking aspirin on a regular basis to talk to their GP first." Professor Peter Elwood, an epidemiologist from Cardiff University, who carried out some of the first studies into the effects of aspirin on health, said individuals should make up their own minds: "Aspirin should be thought of in the same context as lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise which can help to preserve health." Professor Elwood said taking aspirin at night and with calcium seemed to enhance its effects. He suggested taking it with a glass of milk as this could also reduce stomach irritation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waerth Posted March 28, 2013 Report Share Posted March 28, 2013 Aspirin has a lot of positive effects it seems. In the past year I have been reading a lot of articles in the Dutch press about its effect on diabetes and many other diseases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSTEACH Posted March 29, 2013 Report Share Posted March 29, 2013 Amazing for a drug developed in 1897. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coss Posted March 29, 2013 Report Share Posted March 29, 2013 Wasn't it originally derived from the bark of a willow tree? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted March 29, 2013 Report Share Posted March 29, 2013 My understanding is that Bayer synthesized it for the first time in 1897. No need to chew on tree bark anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Central Scrutinizer Posted March 29, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 29, 2013 Wasn't it originally derived from the bark of a willow tree? Yes, from the inside lining of the bark of the willow tree. American Indian natural medicine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pasathai1 Posted March 29, 2013 Report Share Posted March 29, 2013 its a compromise, since overall it Inhibits Muscle Growth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCorinthian Posted March 31, 2013 Report Share Posted March 31, 2013 The positive effects of this simple nsaid are just astounding....! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.