Oncology

ASPIRIN AND BREAST CANCER

There are more and more studies coming out showing the cancer-protective benefits of aspirin. Aspirin has been shown to protect against colon cancer, and now there is a growing body of evidence that breast cancer risk is reduced as well. New research in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows using certain pain killers, especially aspirin, can be protective against breast cancer.

There is a growing body of evidence that aspirin reduces breast cancer risk. Aspirin has already been shown to protect against colon cancer.

Little did Valerie Peterson know that her enteric coated baby aspirin might be doing double duty. “I’m taking 81 milligrams, it’s like a baby aspirin and I take it because I have a lot of heart disease in my father’s side of the family.”
Columbia Presbyterian hospital researchers have released information about breast cancer in their study showing the frequent use of aspirin is associated with lower risk of breast cancer, based on a survey of women. Half had breast cancer, the other half did not. Dr. Julia Smith, a medical oncologist at New York University Cancer Center, says, “Prostaglandins, which are the chemicals which aspirin inhibits, are known to be involved with the immune system in cancer defense systems, and so these drugs like aspirin have been out in discussion in research for a long time.”

The study found those who used aspirin most frequently… seven or more times per week…were at the lowest risk. But this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe, or recommended. “We don’t know from the study, specifically, how it was taken, how much the dosage, the duration, the numbers are not large in this study so confirmatory studies are needed,” advises Dr. Smith.

The other interesting finding in the study is that aspirin appeared to prevent only cancers that had estrogen or progesterone receptors on them…in other words, tumors that grow in the presence of female hormones. Because aspirin blocks the production of estrogen in the body, this makes sense.

There was very little if no benefit seen in those who used ibuprofen, such as Advil or Motrin. And acetaminophen, or Tylenol, definitely provided no benefit in terms of reducing the risk for getting breast cancer.

The researchers did find overall a 20 percent lower risk of breast cancer among those who used aspirin at least once weekly for six months or longer. And it appears from the study that the benefits are greater for post menopausal women. “I think the most important thing for the individual person…is not to jump on any bandwagons, to make sure that they have their individual risk and their profile looked at by a trained person, that can help them,” Smith believes.

Valeri is happy with the study’s findings, knowing that any cancer benefit is gravy on what to her is heart medicine. “Any help you can get is fine, and I think everybody will jump on it.”
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