It's hard to believe that a derivative from the bark of the willow tree can do so much good. Back in
December 2010, Lancet published a study concluding that low dose aspirin taken for at least 5 years was associated with lower cancer mortality.
Last November, another study (coincidentally published in
Lancet) concluded that (high dose) aspirin lead to a lower risk of colon cancer in high risk patients (those w/Lynch syndrome).
Well,
just yesterday, Lancet (again!) published results of a meta-analysis of 51 randomized controlled trials designed ostensibly to assess the affect of cancer in vascular prophylaxis. But this time the authors were also able to conclude that those
participants randomized to aspirin had a lower risk of cancer incidence & mortality after just 3 years.
Both men & women, smokers & non-smokers benefited from daily aspirin. More importantly, the risk of bleeding outside the brain actually decreased w/time. Granted, there was some notable differences in benefit in terms of cancer types (
better at esophageal, stomach, bowel & lung), but still, here we have a very inexpensive medication that actually prevents cancer (death)! And let's not forget
preventing heart attacks in men and strokes in women. Because we still haven't answered the question as to who is most likely to benefit at what age for what period of time, the decision to start taking aspirin should be made only after an indepth discussion with your family physician.
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