Summary
Analysis of roughly 200 studies investigating the benefits and harms of taking aspirin indicates that a small dose of aspirin every day could help to prevent deaths from bowel, stomach and oesophageal cancers. Approximately 122,000 deaths could be prevented in the UK over two decades if everyone aged 50 or above took the drug for 10 years. Readers are cautioned that aspirin can cause internal bleeding, so medical advice is recommended.
Reference
Mundasad, S. (2014). Daily aspirin ‘cuts bowel and stomach cancer deaths’. London: BBC Health News, August 6th 2014.
This relates to:
Reference
Cuzick, J, Thorat, MA. Bosetti, C. [et al]. (2014). Estimates of benefits and harms of prophylactic use of aspirin in the general population. Annals of Oncology. August 5th 2014. [Epub ahead of print].
