How Aspirin Might Affect Cancer Survival

Taking aspirin in low doses could help patients with cancer live longer, a new study found.

This study, published recently in PLOS One, found that patients who took aspirin while receiving cancer treatment could increase their chance of survival by up to 20 percent and reduce the risk of the cancer spreading.

The Cardiff University researchers behind this study looked at past studies on aspirin and cancer survival. Past research has found links between aspirin and a lower risk of cancer, these researchers said, but little research has studied aspirin's role in cancer survival.

Although these results are promising, they don't prove anything yet, and aspirin can pose some health risks, such as bleeding. That's why these researchers called for randomized trials to further study the role of aspirin as a cancer treatment.

Patients should speak to a doctor or pharmacist before taking any new over-the-counter medication.

The authors of this study disclosed no funding sources or conflicts of interest.