Aspirin May Protect Against Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers. And its risk factors remain unclear, so few preventive strategies can be recommended. But aspirin may be one of them.

Nearly 30,000 women ages 55 to 69 were asked to track their use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Common NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen sodium. The researchers found that women who took aspirin just two to five times per week cut their risk of pancreatic cancer by more than half. The effect was not seen with any of the other NSAIDs.

Researchers concluded that aspirin could have prevented about 43% of pancreatic cancer cases among non-aspirin users. If you're concerned about your risk for this cancer, ask your doctor if regular aspirin use is right for you.

Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol. 94, No. 15