Can taking aspirin ward off cancer? Yes, according to a new study

If you worry about taking painkillers when you have a headache, here’s some good news. According to a new study, taking aspirin can actually help you to ward off cancer in later life.

The Irish Daily Star reports that the humble painkiller has the proven ability to prevent cancer, and could be used to help revise important patient guidelines.

According to research carried out by Professor Peter Rothwell at Oxford University, there is strong evidence to suggest that the anti-cancer benefits of aspirin could be bigger than the protective effect that it has on the heart and arteries.

The research, which was published in the Lancet journal, suggests that low daily doses of the tablet may not only prevent a headache or stomach ache, it can also prevent cancer from occurring in the first place. More importantly, Professor Rothwell believes that it may even be able to slow the progress of the deadly disease.

The study which was undertaken revealed that by taking daily doses of aspirin, the risk of developing cancer was cut by a quarter after just three years. After five years of taking the painkiller, the risk of dying from cancer was lowered by a massive 37 per cent. The study showed that aspirin also reduced the chances of cancer spreading by almost 50 per cent.

“No drug has ever been shown to reduce metastasis as a specific effect. It opens up a new therapeutic area,” said Professor Rothwell.

Many people take a low dose of aspirin every day to help guard them against heart attacks and strokes. Small amounts of the painkiller can also be used to ward off blood clots.

So cancer, clots, heart attacks, strokes and headaches – is aspirin the new wonder tablet?