Aspirin Could Cut the Risk of Cancer

A daily dose of aspirin may help prevent or even possibly help treat cancer, according to three recent studies.

The new studies, which were led by Peter Rothwell of Oxford University, suggest that aspirin not only has a short-term benefit of preventing cancer, but it reduces the chance of cancers spreading to other organs by 40 to 50 percent.

Rothwell says the findings add to the case for use of aspirin to prevent cancer, particularly if people are at increased risk.

Aspirin, which is also used by some to protect against heart attacks and strokes, increases the risk of bleeding in the stomach, which has led to debate about its daily use.