Men who take an aspirin a day after being treated for prostate cancer live longer than those who don’t, according to a new study that adds to the growing body of evidence that the painkiller is a potent cancer fighter.
The study, by researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, found taking aspirin daily after prostate surgery or radiation reduces the risk of dying within 10 years, as well as the odds of a cancer relapse and the spread of tumors to bones.
Past studies have found aspirin may help prevent the growth and spread of prostate cancer.
"The results from this study suggest that aspirin prevents the growth of tumor cells in prostate cancer, especially in high-risk prostate cancer, for which we do not have a very good treatment currently,” said lead researcher Dr. Kevin Choe. “But we need to better understand the optimal use of aspirin before routinely recommending it to all prostate cancer patients."
The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, involved 5,955 men who underwent radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy for prostate cancer. About 2,200 of the men received aspirin as part of their follow-up care. After 70 months, researchers found those who received aspirin had a significantly lower death rate than those who weren’t taking aspirin daily.