Aspirin could cut the risk of death for cancer patients

Taking aspirin alongside cancer treatments could cut patients’ risk of dying by 20 per cent, according to a report of 250,000 patients. Researchers from Cardiff University said the painkiller appeared to also reduce the risk of cancer spreading beyond the initial tumour. They have published a systematic review of 118 earlier published studies, involving patients with 18 different cancers. While observational studies are unable to prove cause and effect, the review concluded that “the body of evidence now available on the efficacy and the safety of aspirin justifies its use as an adjunct treatment in a wide range of cancers”.