Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
28 September 2018 08:17
A daily aspirin could help during cancer treatment
Taking an aspirin every day might not only help keep cancer at bay, it could also play a life-saving role in treatment, new research suggests.
A study reviewing hundreds of thousands of cancer patients found that some of those taking the painkiller saw a significant improvement in their survival chances.
When compared to those who didn't take a daily dose of aspirin, these patients were found to be 20% to 30% more likely to be alive at any time following diagnosis.
Researchers at the University of Cardiff, who carried out the study, said that these findings show that aspirin could have a valuable role in future cancer treatment.
Hidden trends
The Cardiff team pooled the results of 71 previous studies to highlight hidden trends. Survival rates of 120,000 cancer patients taking aspirin were compared with those of 400,000 patients who were not.
Almost half the studies involved patients with bowel cancer, while breast and prostate cancer accounted for most of the rest. Very few of the patients suffered from serious stomach bleeding, a known potential side-effect of aspirin.
The proportion of aspirin users experiencing a serious bleed was no greater than the proportion suffering a bleed due to other causes.
Preventive
Lead researcher Professor Peter Elwood, from the University of Cardiff, said: "The use of low-dose aspirin as a preventive in heart disease, stroke and cancer is well established but evidence is now emerging that the drug may have a valuable role as an additional treatment for cancer too."
"Patients with cancer should be given the evidence now available and be helped to make their own judgment of the balance between the risks and the benefits of daily low dose.
"Evidence from further studies is urgently required, and patients should be strongly encouraged to participate in appropriate research studies.
"All patients should consult their GP before starting new medication."
If you've been diagnosed with cancer and are looking for travel insurance that meets your needs throughout the illness, check out our dedicated cancer travel insurance and find a cover that's right for you.
19 October 2018
Pregnant women who suffer from pre-eclampsia have a greater risk of developing dementia, new research suggests.
[more...]
18 October 2018
The UK's average life expectancy is predicted to increase from 80.8 years to 83.3 years over the next 20 years, according to new research.
17 October 2018
Family doctors are being urged to prescribe physical activity for patients living with some of the most common medical conditions.
16 October 2018
Patients with brain tumours lose out on almost £15,000 per year, a new report has revealed.
13 October 2018
Chris Grayling has given his "categorial assurance" to Parliament that a no-deal Brexit will not ground flights in and out of the UK, despite recent warnings from experts that this remains a possibility.
12 October 2018
The rising cost of fuel could force more airlines out of business, the boss of easyJet has warned.
11 October 2018
The image of the boozy backpacker might be a thing of the past as a new study suggests more and more youngsters are shunning alcohol completely.
10 October 2018
The NHS says just one in 10 drinks sold in English hospitals will be sugar-sweetened, as part of its bid to curb rising obesity levels.
09 October 2018
More than 260,000 diabetes patients were put at risk of lasting harm or even death during hospital stays last year due to medication errors, a new report has revealed.
06 October 2018
NHS patients with a specific type of lymphoma will soon be able to access a "game-changing" new treatment, health officials have revealed.
05 October 2018
People living with diabetes are being warned they might be "unwittingly" storing their insulin incorrectly.
04 October 2018
The world's first commercial jet part-powered by a new form of biofuel touches down in London on Wednesday (3rd October).