Low-Dose Aspirin Cuts Cancer Death Rate

A recent study in the journal The Lancet suggests long-term, low-dose aspirin use reduces the risk of cancer-related death. The researchers analyzed cancer-related deaths in 8 clinical studies of aspirin involving >25,000 patients. At 20 years’ follow-up, patients in the aspirin arms were 20% less likely to die of cancer than patients in the placebo groups. Aspirin dosages were usually low—between 75 mg to 100 mg. The fi ndings will no doubt stoke the fl ames of the ongoing debate over whether healthy individuals should start taking aspirin. Despite the potential benefi ts, aspirin also increases the risk of bleeding in the stomach and brain.