Last week it was red meat, this week it’s aspirin. Over 15 months ago I reported on research in The Lancet about aspirin cutting the risk of cancer. This is in addition to reducing heart attacks and strokes in those already at risk ( with a smaller benefit to otherwise healthy people ). The top two causes of death in the world, UK and Philippines, are cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Now the same research workers, from Oxford, have published more work analysing data from trials first set up to test aspirin’s effect on heart disease. Unfortunately you can’t read the new articles without paying for them.
The team has shown that daily aspirin not only reduces long term risk of some cancers, especially large bowel ( common in UK and Philippines ), but also that its effects start to show after only 2 – 3 years. It seems to reduce the chance of cancers spreading to distant organs by up to half. They even suggest that the cancer benefit may be larger than its action in preventing heart attacks and strokes.
Apart from being a pain killer, aspirin stops blood cells called platelets from binding, and so prevents blood “ clotting “ ( thrombosis ). It seems that it also stops cancer cells sticking to platelets, so they can’t travel to other parts of the body. Over half of cancers do spread ( metastasize ) and that’s what often kills the patient. Aspirin probably also helps repair damaged DNA.
Remember cancer mostly affects middle aged people, so we’re talking about whether or not to start taking low dose ( 75 mg ) daily from the late forties. Younger people should only think about this if there is a family history of cancer or heart disease. The worry is that there is a risk of internal bleeding, such as stomach or brain. Aspirin should also NOT be taken for dengue ( paracetamol is recommended ).
It is NOT my place to recommend aspirin to any member or their relatives . The first thing to do is ask your GP, or wait a little longer unless you already have heart problems. The public need expert advice, given the risks as well as benefits from this drug. It is, however, good news – aspirin is cheap . The professor leading the research does have the courage of his conviction, at age 47, to take daily aspirin himself !