Latest research has confirmed the potential of aspirin in warding off certain cancers. According to a latest news release issued by American Association for Cancer Research, aspirin if consumed more than what is required to fend off heart disease, has the potential to lower the risk of cancer. Aspirin inhibits the action of substances like cyclooxygenase, or COX enzymes that are associated with colorectal, prostate and breast cancers. Aspirin also reduces the formation of clots thereby reducing the risks of heart disease.

22,507 cancer-free postmenopausal women who claimed to use aspirin regularly had 16 percent reduced risk of developing cancer. Dr Aditya Bardia comments on this study at the conference at American Association for Cancer Research: “This is just one study. However, it does provide provocative evidence that regular aspirin use may play a role in preventing the most common chronic diseases in western countries, namely cancer and heart disease.”

But Dr Alison, Cancer Research UK’s cancer information officer, warns against using the aspirin for a long period of time because it can cause serious side effects like bleeding in the digestive system. According to him, “People should not start taking aspirin in order to reduce their chances of getting cancer unless advised to by their doctor.”