NSAIDs cut risk of breast cancer (maybe others)

Regular use of aspirin or ibuprofen may lower the risk of breast cancer after menopause. They took data from the massive WHI study and crunched the numbers. Women who used two or more pills of NSAIDs per week for five to nine years cut their risk of breast cancer by 21 percent. Longer use cut the risk more. Ibuprofen use was even better--with a 49% cut in risk. And it helped with those with a family history or had other risk factors. This was regular dose, not baby aspirin. Tylenol had no effect--it's the anti-inflammatories that do it.

Regular aspirin has also been tied to lowering colon cancer risk. I haven't seen anything about gynecological cancers, but the principle is very basic--lower inflammation, lower risk of cancer.

This study hasn't been published yet. It was reported in Reuter's from a paper at a conference, but WHI people are big time science.

Thanks Trish! That is certainly interesting. I've following the colon cancer and NSAIDS issue and it is truly amazing how the finding of protection by NSAIDS is very consistent (so far!). I'm looking forward to seeing the breast cancer data.

Beth

I am going to respond to bummmp this up..I think this is important info. I have read for a number of years about the healing qualities of aspirin. I have also read that ibuprofen can reduce the risks of alzheimers. I hope these studies conclude that this simple thing will help or prevent disease.

Thanks Trish. I was diagnosed with breast cancer a year and a half ago. I will look into this after my hysterectomy surgery.

I think you have to be carerful with long term use of ibuprofen though because it can cause renal failure. My FIL (a doctor) saw some in our medicine cabinet and said that he hoped we weren't using them on a regular basis.

But any new research that provides a ray of hope is good news.

Lydia