Aspirin may reduce breast cancer incidence

This news item was added on 10th March 2008

A review of breast cancer studies by experts at London's Guy's Hospital has found that aspirin may help to prevent the disease.

According to Professor Ian Fentiman, one of the researchers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin may provide "significant protection" against the development of breast cancer.

The reviewers found that aspirin may reduce the incidence of breast cancer by as much as 20 per cent, as well as providing benefits for women who are undergoing treatment for the disease.

"NSAID use could be combined with hormone therapy or used to relieve symptoms in the commonest cause of cancer-related deaths in women," said Professor Fentiman.

Dr Kat Arney, senior cancer information officer at the charity Cancer Research UK, said that studies on aspirin have repeatedly shown a range of positive effects.

However, she pointed out that aspirin can produce significant side-effects if used for a long period of time and concluded: "More research is needed to investigate how the side-effects can be balanced with the benefits of these drugs."