UK Health Radio Medical News Update - Aspirin

UK Health Radio Medical News Update

Aspirin

More news about the wonder drug aspirin that a review of all available evidence has suggested, taken every day can reduce the chance of developing or dying from bowel and stomach cancers,.

Scientists say that if everyone aged 50 and above in the UK took the drug for 10 years, some 122,000 deaths could be prevented over two decades. However they also warn aspirin can cause internal bleeding and say that patients should seek medical advice before using it.

The report from the Queen Mary University of London is in the Annals of Oncology and gives details of how scientists examined some 200 studies that had investigated the benefits and harms of taking aspirin in an area of continuing medical debate.

They found that the findings showed that the drug reduced the number of cases and deaths from bowel, stomach and oesophageal cancer by some 30-40%. There was also evidence that the drug reduced deaths from breast, prostate and lung cancer too although this was weaker and more variable.

The study also found people needed to take the drug for at least five years to see any benefits. Researchers predicted if 1,000 individuals aged 60 took the drug for 10 years, a decade later there would be:

·       16 fewer deaths from cancer

·       One fewer death from heart attack

·       Two extra deaths from bleeding

Prof Jack Cuzick, at Queen Mary University of London, who led the research

has been taking aspirin himself for four years and said: "While there are serious side-effects that can't be ignored, taking aspirin daily looks to be the most important thing we can do to reduce cancer after stopping smoking and reducing obesity, and will probably be much easier to implement." As the risk of internal bleeding rises as an individual gets older, the suggested cut-off point is 10 years.

There is still uncertainty whether other doses of the drug could offer more protection.

Experts warn anyone at high risk of bleeding, including people with blood disorders who take blood thinning medication, or are frequent smokers or drinkers, are more likely to suffer these side-effects.

Exactly how aspirin protects against cancer is unknown. Scientists suggest it may reduce inflammation or act on blood cells that would otherwise encourage the spread of the disease.

Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio Medical News Update

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