In the battle against cancer, preventative measures – particularly those that are inexpensive and immediately available – are some of the best tools at our disposal.

Virtually everyone is familiar with the commonly discussed benefits of aspirin, to relieve headaches and cold symptoms, reduce arthritis pain, and to reduce the probability of suffering from a heart attach.

However, a growing body of scientific evidence indicates that aspirin may be beneficial in addressing another medical condition and could be worth adding to the “preventative toolbox” within the anti-cancer arsenal. In fact, new studies suggest that taking a single low-dose aspirin a day for cancer can help to prevent and potentially even treat cancer.

Aspirin Provides Significant Reduction in Cancer Risk, Study Says

In one recent study conducted by the University of Oxford, indidividuals that took a single low-dose aspirin once per day for three years reduced their cancer risk by 25% in comparison to individuals that did not take aspirin. In the same study, those who continued to take daily aspirin for five years were 40% less likely to die from cancer than those who did not.

According to Dr. Peter Rothwell, a neurologist and researcher who assisted with the study, the reduced death risk may occur because aspirin has some way of slowing down the rate at which cancer is able to spread throughout the body.

In another study conducted by the same researchers, it was found that taking aspirin daily resulted in a 36% reduction in the likelihood of developing cancer that spreads to other organs, adding credibility to Rothwell’s opinion. Rothwell believes that the findings suggest that a daily aspirin regimen is a good idea for those who have been diagnosed with cancer.

Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of Aspirin on Cancer Risk

The studies conducted by the University of Oxford were not the first to conclude that taking aspirin on a long-term basis could reduce the chance of dying from cancer. However, Rothwell’s study was unique in that it sought to examine the effects of a daily aspirin regimen on the initial development of cancer, as well as how it affects existing cancer in the short-term.

During the study, researchers at the University of Oxford examined data from 51 separate studies, comprising a total of 77,000 participants. Approximately 50% of those involved in the studies were required to take a low-dose aspirin once per day.

Roughly 664 of those who did not take aspirin died from cancer by the time study had concluded. Meanwhile, only 562 of those who took aspirin died from the same.

The researchers also concluded that the anti-cancer effects realized by a daily aspirin regimen did not present themselves until the participants had taken aspirin daily for at least three years.

The Side Effects of a Daily Aspirin Regimen

Preventing and treating cancer are only two of the possible benefits of taking an aspirin each day. Other known health benefits included a reduced risk of stroke and heart attack. However, aspirin has some negative side effects as well.

One of the commonly known side effects of aspirin is an increased likelihood of gastrointestinal bleeding. Fortunately, the researchers said that this side effect largely subsided after three years of taking a daily aspirin regimen, about the same time when the anti-cancer benefits start to present themselves. However, this also happens to be when the heart-positive effects of aspirin start to disappear.

Experts Weigh In On Aspirin for Cancer

According to Dr. Nancy Cook and Dr. Andrew Chan of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the anti-cancer benefits of a daily aspirin regimen outweigh the risks. However, Eric Jacobs of the American Cancer Society said that since the findings are so recent, additional research will be needed before doctors start recommending daily aspirin regimens as a means of preventing cancer. Specifically, Jacobs wants to know which groups (depending on factors such as age, sex, medical history, etc.) will benefit most from a daily aspirin regimen.

Dr. Stephanie Bernik of New York’s Lenox Hill Hospital agrees that more research is needed in this area, particularly because the recent studies looked at existing studies designed for other purposes rather than original data. Bernik hopes that a future study will be specifically designed to determine the effects of daily aspirin intake on cancer risk.

Aspirin for Cancer: The Bottom Line

Recent studies indicate that taking a single low-dose aspirin once per day can help to prevent and even treat cancer. However, due to the known side effects of aspirin, more research is needed before doctors can recommend a daily aspirin regimen as a routine means of preventing cancer. If you feel that a daily aspirin regimen might be right for you, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits.

The full text of the study can be found in the Lancet, a medical journal.