An aspirin a day may keep cancer away?
Comments (0) Scientists from several Harvard-affiliated institutions reported that women who took aspirin after completing breast cancer treatment were half as likely to die from the disease as women who did not regularly take aspirin. Taking aspirin also reportedly reduced the risk of breast cancer returning. You can read the study which was published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology at http://jco.ascopubs.org/cgi/mjgca?SEARCHID=1&FULLTEXT=aspirin%2C+breast+cancer&FIRSTINDEX=0&hits=20&RESULTFORMAT=&gca=jco%3BJCO.2009.22.7918v1
According to Dr. Larry Norton, Director of breast cancer services at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, there is an increasing interest in aspirin as a cancer preventative, however he does not suggest based on this study that people go out and buy aspirin. The study was based on a small sample of 4,164 registered nurses diagnosed with the disease between 1976 and 2002. A total of 341 of these women in the study had died from breast cancer by 2006. The study did not ask women what dose of aspirin they were taking. Along with aspirin the study suggests that other anti-inflammatory medications like Advil and Motrin may be helpful, but only when taken 6-7 days per week.
Aspirin has been prescribed for years to heart disease patients due to its blood thinning properties. However, women should take caution as aspirin can lead to a condition called “leaky gut”. Continued aspirin use can create small holes in the stomach leading to harmful chemicals entering one’s bloodstream.
All agree that further research is needed to determine if aspirin really does support breast health. Unfortunately the drug companies probably won’t be lining up to fund this research since aspirin has no patent protection and produces low profit margins.
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