An Aspirin a Day...

There has been a new study published in the online edition of Breast Cancer Research that examines the possible benefits of taking an aspirin a day to help prevent some types of breast cancer.  By taking a daily dose of aspirin, women may decrease their risk of getting the most common form of breast cancer---estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer---by about 16 percent. Estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer is the most common form of breast cancer and is responsible for about 75 percent of breast cancer diagnoses.

Aspirin effects were studied along with other NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Aspirin shows to have different biological effects when compared with other NSAIDs, the researchers at the U.S. National Cancer Institute have found. There was no decrease in estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer found by taking any of the NSAIDs, aspirin included.

The researchers cautioned that much more work must be done to clarify these initial results and since long term aspirin use may have serious side-effects, like gastrointestinal bleeding, patients must always consult their physician before starting on any type of medication.  There are contraindications for many patients to begin aspirin therapy. 

While it is not advised for women to start taking aspirin based on this initial study, it does seem like new information has again been found regarding breast cancer and how different types of breast cancer react differently to different types of medication. The more that is found out in regards to breast cancer, the closer we are to someday, hopefully, being able to prevent it.