A large, prospective observational study published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) by U.S. researchers shows that regular aspirin use by women who completed treatment for early-stage breast cancer reduced the risk of death by 50 percent. This is the first time that aspirin has been found to significantly reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence and death, according to the researchers. Sun Zhengkui, Department of Breast Surgery, Jiangxi Cancer Hospital, Harvard Medical School, USA. The study was conducted by Michelle Holmes and her team from 1976 to June 2006 on 4,164 female nurses (aged 30-55) who participated in the Nurses’ Health Study (diagnosed with stage I, II and III breast cancer). The results showed that 400 women experienced cancer spread and 341 nurses died from breast cancer. Breast cancer patients who took aspirin 2-5 days a week had a 60% and 71% lower risk of cancer spread and death from breast cancer, respectively. Those who took aspirin 6-7 days a week had a 43% lower risk of cancer spread and a 64% lower risk of dying from breast cancer. Patients treated for early-stage breast cancer who took aspirin had a 50 percent lower risk of both spreading the cancer and dying from breast cancer. Holmes said, “If these findings are validated by other clinical trials, taking aspirin could become yet another simple, low-cost and relatively safe tool to help women with breast cancer live longer and healthier lives.” The researchers noted that it is uncertain whether other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin may also help reduce breast cancer, in what way they exert their effects on tumors, but such drugs may reduce inflammation. Other previous studies have also shown that aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce the risk of colon cancer. However, researchers stress that breast cancer patients should not take aspirin during radiation therapy or chemotherapy. This is because of possible side effects.