An aspirin a day keeps the cancer away

Taking aspirin every day can reduce the chance of developing or dying from bowel and stomach cancers, a review of all available evidence suggests. And scientists predict if everyone aged 50 and above in the UK took the drug for 10 years, some 122,000 deaths could be prevented over two decades. Scientists examined some 200 studies investigating the benefits and harms of taking aspirin - an area of continuing medical debate. They found the drug reduced the number of cases and deaths from bowel, stomach, and oesophageal cancer by some 30-40%. There was weaker and more variable evidence that the drug reduced deaths from breast, prostate, and lung cancer too. The study also found people needed to take the drug for at least five years to see any benefits. But remember that aspirin can cause internal bleeding and medical advice must be sought before using it.