Daily aspirin at low doses reduces cancer deaths

Health 07 Dec 10 A daily low dose of aspirin significantly reduces the number of deaths from a whole range of common cancers, an Oxford University study has found. The 20% drop in all cancer deaths seen in the study adds new evidence to the debate about whether otherwise healthy people in their 40s and 50s should consider taking a low dose of aspirin each day. Aspirin is already known to be beneficial for those at high risk of heart disease. But among healthy people, the benefit in lower chances of heart problems only marginally outweighs the small risk of stomach bleeds. The large size of the effect now seen in preventing cancer deaths may begin to tip the balance in favour of taking aspirin, the scientists suggest, but say that it is a matter for the health bodies who write treatment guidelines. 'These results do not mean that all adults should immediately start taking aspirin,' cautions Professor Peter Rothwell of the Department of Clinical Neurology at Oxford University, who led the work. 'But they do demonstrate major new benefits that have not previously been factored into guideline recommendations.' 'Previous guidelines have rightly cautioned that in healthy middle aged people the small risk of bleeding on aspirin partly offsets the benefit from prevention of strokes and heart attacks, but the reductions in deaths due to several common cancers will now alter this balance for many people.' These results do not mean that all adults should immediately start taking aspirin.