Daily low dose aspirin to reduce cancer

Aspirin has been used for pain relief.  But several studies now documented that aspirin also reduces heart attack and cancer. It also has an increased risk of bleeding (stroke, bowel bleeding, etc).   A meta-analysis study suggests that aspirin use in 1000 average risk patients at age 60 years would be expected to result, over a 10-year period, in six fewer deaths, 19 fewer non-fatal myocardial infarctions, 14 fewer cancers, and 16 more major bleeding events.   

Sokol et al recommended for individuals age 50 years or older without excess bleeding risks to take daily aspirin at a dose of 75 to 100 mg. Patients who are risk or concern about bleeding may not want to do this.  Please discuss it with your doctors and practitioners. 

  

Reference

- Sokol NH. Practice changing updates.  Uptodates. Accessed 5-5-13

- Rothwell PM, et al.  Short-term effects of daily aspirin on cancer incidence, mortality, and non-vascular death: analysis of the time course of risks and benefits in 51 randomised controlled trials. Lancet. 2012;379(9826):1602.