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Aspirin for 10 Years Starting at Age 40 May Ward Off Cancer
As reported by BBC News. 2009 Apr 29
Starting at age 40, people who take aspirin regularly may reduce their risks of cancer, according to British investigators who reviewed the literature on aspirin. Cancer usually develops after age 40; thus, taking aspirin for 10 years during the precancerous stage may maximize the drug’s preventive effects. Although many people take aspirin to protect against heart disease, research indicates that rates of bowel, breast, and other types of cancer are also lower in individuals who take aspirin on a regular basis. The anticancer effect is associated with the standard dose of 300 mg, not the low-dose, baby aspirin regimen. Ulcers and internal bleeding, however, are adverse effects of aspirin use that must be considered. Because of these serious adverse effects, using aspirin to prevent cancer is not currently recommended. Aspirin blocks the effects of proteins involved in inflammation, which is believed to be a factor that contributes to the development of cancer as well as heart disease. Combining aspirin with proton pump inhibitors could help lower the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. The research results were published in the May issue of The Lancet Oncology.
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