MONDAY, Dec. 6
-- Long-term use of a daily low-dose aspirin dramatically cuts the risk of dying from a wide array of cancers, a new investigation
reveals.
Specifically, a British research team unearthed evidence that a low-dose aspirin (75 milligrams) taken daily for at least five years brings about a 10
percent to 60 percent drop in fatalities depending on the type of cancer.
The finding stems from a fresh analysis of eight studies involving more than 25,500 patients, which had originally been conducted to examine the
protective potential of a low-dose aspirin regimen on cardiovascular disease.
The current observations follow prior research conducted by the same study team, which reported in October that a long-term regimen of low-dose
aspirin appears to shave the risk of dying from colorectal cancer by a third.
news.yahoo.com...
The Lancet, a very respected medical journal, did this study. The article is available online free right now.
Interpretation
Daily aspirin reduced deaths due to several common cancers during and after the trials. Benefit increased with duration of treatment and was
consistent across the different study populations. These findings have implications for guidelines on use of aspirin and for understanding of
carcinogenesis and its susceptibility to drug intervention.
www.thelancet.com...
They didn't receive funding for the study, so obviously they aren't "biased"...
Also, who would really fund an aspirin study, the scope of this?
Aspirin is non-patented. Consumers can't be raped on the price of
it.
I really think that this is a great thing.
The Lancet is coming out and showing people that all that crap Big Pharma drug stuff that one has to get liver function panels every month to make
sure that the drug isn't turning their liver into that of an end stage alcoholic's may not be the end all- be all.
Aspirin is one of the very oldest drugs on the shelf.
In low doses, it is safe. I really think that the hype given its potential to cause "bleeds" may be overstated
by Big Pharma to keep people away from a cheap, effective anti-inflammatory, analgesic medication that has a lot of other health benefits and is
NON-prescription.
Am I saying to rush out and take tons of aspirin?
No.
Be aware, however, of all those drug ads and the fine print.
The fine print has a heck of a lot worse side effects than a very small chance of increased susceptability for bleeding.
And one must take a LOT of aspirin over a LONG time to have such a thing happen, or already have ulcers, be on Coumadin, Plavix or another clotting
inhibitor.
A consistent
minimum 10% reduction (up to 60%!!) in the chance of getting many different cancers, simply from taking baby aspirin a day?
With the effects lasting long afterwards, even if one stops after 5 years or so?
Pretty good advertising, for a pill that costs a few pennies.
