Post by KenNiemann on Feb 18, 2010 1:36:00 GMT -5
Aspirin May Boost Survival in Breast Cancer
February 17, 2010 — The regular use of aspirin might increase survival in breast cancer, according to data published online February 16 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Aspirin use was associated with a decreased risk for distant recurrence, breast cancer death, and death from any cause.
Depending on the number of days of aspirin use per week, patients were able to reduce the risk for distant metastasis by 43% to 60%. Likewise, compared with nonusers, aspirin use was associated with a 64% to 71% reduction in the risk for breast cancer-related mortality.
"It is important to realize that this is an observational study, and in such a study we cannot prove that aspirin causes improved survival," said lead author Michelle D. Holmes, MD, DrPH, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. "It will be important to see if our results can be repeated in other observational studies."
Depending on the number of days of aspirin use per week, patients were able to reduce the risk for distant metastasis by 43% to 60%. Likewise, compared with nonusers, aspirin use was associated with a 64% to 71% reduction in the risk for breast cancer-related mortality.
"It is important to realize that this is an observational study, and in such a study we cannot prove that aspirin causes improved survival," said lead author Michelle D. Holmes, MD, DrPH, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. "It will be important to see if our results can be repeated in other observational studies."