Aspirin has been one of many medications that give individuals relief from various aches they could be feeling. Now, a new research study has contributed regular use of low dose aspirin to the prevention of pancreatic cancer.
According to Guardian Liberty Voice, the study looked at health information involving individuals who had pancreatic cancer in comparison with individuals who didn’t. About 360 participants had cancer while close to 700 did not have cancer.
The low doses of aspirin that were taken by individuals in the study were as much as 75 to 325 milligrams.
The results of the study found that the individuals who took the low dose aspirin medication regularly had reduced their chance of getting pancreatic cancer at around 50%.
Many of those individuals had been taking aspirin for as long as 20 years and their chances of having pancreatic cancer decreased by 60%.
CBS News reported the 5-year survival rate has a small percentage, at only 5%.
The study was published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, & Prevention.
Other illnesses that aspirin has been shown to help lower the chance of developing it include ovarian, stomach, breast, and lung cancer. It’s not clear why exactly aspirin is able to be so effective in preventing cancer, but according to CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook, “Aspirin interrupts the inflammatory pathway in the body. It turns out those same pathways look like they’re part of the pathways that can lead to cancer.”
The authors of the study suggested an aspirin regime would be beneficial for individuals who have a family history and other risk factors of developing pancreatic cancer.
There are health risks to taking aspirin, however, so it is important for individuals to talk to their doctor.