Low-Dose Aspirin Could Increase Cancer Survival

US Pharm. 2016;41(5):6.

Cardiff, Wales—New research from Cardiff University School of Medicine suggests that patients receiving treatment for certain types of cancer could increase their chance of survival by approximately 20% and help stop the cancer from spreading by taking a low dose of aspirin. In a systematic literature review (mean study follow-up length >5 years), a research team found significant reductions in mortality and cancer spread in patients who took low-dose aspirin in addition to their cancer treatment. All available data from five randomized trials and 42 observational studies of breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers were examined. In light of aspirin’s potential for intestinal bleeding, the team also specifically researched all data on bleeding and found no reports of serious or life-threatening bleeding in any study.