An aspirin a day can keep breast cancer away
Reported 01 May, 2008
A study of 127,000 women found that those who took the drug lowered their chances of getting hormone-sensitive breast cancer by 16 per cent.
The research, by scientists at the US National Institutes of Health, is the latest to highlight the potential health benefits of the cheap painkiller.
It has already been shown to combat rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, strokes and some cancers, notably those of the lung, bowel and pancreas.
However, health experts warn that it can have serious side-effects and women should seek medical advice before taking it.
Oestrogen positive cancer (ER+) accounts for 75 per cent of all breast cancer cases each year, affecting 33,000 women in Britain.
In cases of ER+, tumour growth is fuelled by oestrogen but the production of the hormone can be reduced by drugs.
The research in America involved women aged 51 to 72 who were enrolled on the National Institutes of Health Diet and Health Study, a major investigation into links between diet, behaviour and cancer.
While the researchers found no evidence that taking aspirin could stave off other types of breast cancer, they discovered that it could reduce the risk of women developing ER+ by 16 per cent.
Writing in the journal Breast Cancer Research, Dr Gretchen Gierach, from the National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland, who was the scientist who led the study, said the results were encouraging.
“Daily aspirin use appeared to offer some protection for ER+ breast cancer in this population,” she said.
But cancer charities warned women to wait for more confirmation of aspirin’s positive effects before stocking up on the drug.
Dr Sarah Cant, the policy manager at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, the British charity, warned that even if it was definitely shown to reduce the risk of developing ER+ cancer, there were many other factors, such as drinking alcohol, that may affect breast cancer risk.
“At the moment we’re not in a position to say that women can protect themselves simply by taking an aspirin,” she said.
“Even if future research does show a link, breast cancer is a complex disease likely to be caused by a combination of lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors.”
Liz Baker, the science information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: “This study is one of many which have found that aspirin and related drugs could reduce the risk of breast cancer but the authors have acknowledged that their results were not conclusive and more studies are needed.
“It’s important to remember that taking aspirin for a long time can have harmful side-effects, including heart problems and stomach ulcers.
“Weighing up the risks and benefits, it’s too soon to recommend aspirin as a way of reducing the risk of cancer.
“Cancer Research UK would urge people to speak to their doctor before taking aspirin regularly.”