A new study relating the daily use of low-dose aspirin and pancreatic cancer has recently been concluded. According to the released evidence, low aspirin dosage intake may prevent the spread and the risks of pancreatic problems.
A Chinese-based study led by Dr. Harvey Risch, an Epidemiology professor at the Yale School of Public Health, has given its conclusion on Tuesday, Dec. 20. According to the report, taking in low-dose aspirin regularly may cut the risks of pancreatic and colon cancer nearly in half. However, experts of the case study still cannot prove the cause-and-effect of aspirin on other health aspects of a regular person.
"The balance of evidence shows that people who use aspirin to reduce risk for cardiovascular disease or colorectal cancer can feel positive that their use likely also lowers their risk for pancreatic cancer," Dr. Risch said. His team though believes that it will be highly beneficial to pancreatic cancer prone patients as their data show the result of their studies reliable.
"We found that regular use of aspirin by a large group of people in Shanghai cut risk of pancreatic cancer almost in half."
The study involved 761 patients from Shanghai who were already diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, according to Tucson. They were observed from 2006 to 2011 and they were compared to 794 people who are cancer-free. Each participant was asked about whether they use aspirin and if such drug was used on a regular basis. A number of participants were then found out to have taken low-dose aspirin on a daily basis. About 18 percent of the non-cancer patients were then reportedly consuming low-dose aspirin.
Considering certain factors, Risch's team of researchers found out that aspirin may reduce the risks of pancreatic cancer up to 46 percent. The group has however stressed that their report does not prove that aspirin can be directly accounted for lower cancer risk and that it can be possible that the participants do not precisely recall the history of their aspirin intake.
Apart from the findings of Risch and his team, other similar studies claimed the same results. His team then examined 18 of these previous studies which looked into the connection betwen aspirin use and pancreatic cancer for the past two decades. The researchers then concluded that as the use of aspirin increases, the risk of cancer decreases significantly.
These recorded findings of Risch's team are expected to help more medical experts who are studying the relation of aspirin with pancreatic cancer. The study is deemed relevant output although pancreatic cancer cases are relatively low as of now but may soon increase given the lifestyle of people.
"Pancreatic cancer is relatively rare -- just 1.5 percent of U.S. adults will be diagnosed with it at some point during life -- and regular aspirin use can cause appreciable complications for some," Science Daily quoted Dr. Risch as saying. "Therefore, a person should consult his or her doctor about aspirin use."
