14 DAY TRIAL // Individuals who take aspirin on a regular basis and for long periods of time are less likely to develop head and neck cancer symptoms, shows a recent study carried out by a team of researchers at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, in Buffalo, N.Y. Earlier studies have also connected regular aspirin intake with a decreased risk of heart disease, skin cancer, multiple sclerosis etc.
The US team involved in the current study also pointed out that what it matters most is not the amount of aspirin people take, but for how long they have been on the drug. Therefore, the longer the use of aspirin, the bigger the individual's chance of preventing head and neck cancer. Nevertheless, authors of the report published in the Archives of Otolaryngology Journal mentioned that smokers and drinkers' long-term aspirin intake has no such positive influence on their neck and cancer risks.
When speaking about the long-term effectiveness of common drug's intake researchers stated that they refer to more than 10 years periods of time. Co-author of the study Mary E. Reid, Assistant Professor of Oncology at Roswell Park Cancer Institute said: "We found that duration really seemed to make a difference. It was more duration than frequency. Taking aspirin for under 10 years did not have a significant effect, but taking it 10 years or more was associated with a 30 percent reduction in cancer."
The study has been conducted on patients of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute and involved two types of subjects - 529 were neck and head cancer sufferers, while 529 had not developed symptoms of the fearful conditions. All participants were asked to report whether they were taking aspirin on a regular basis and, if so, for how long had they been on the drug.
Overall results of the study showed that a long-term intake of the medicine significantly cut the risk for the severe conditions or eased symptoms in people who had already been neck and head cancer patients. The team stated: "A consistently decreasing trend in risk was noted with increasing duration of aspirin use. Risk reduction was observed across all five primary tumor sites, with cancers of the oral cavity and oropharynx upper throat exhibiting greater risk reduction."
However, medical experts warn that everyday intake of aspirin in order to prevent different types of cancer also has side effects and that is why long-term and regular use of the drug should not be recommended yet. Researchers also have to establish if the benefits of aspirin intake outweigh the side effects, such as gastrointestinal bleeding and problems. That is why anyone who decides taking the drug on a regular basis should check with his physician first.
Dr. Michael Thun, Vice President for Epidemiology and Prevalence Research at the American Cancer Society stated: "At this point, aspirin is still not recommended for prevention of any cancer because of the risks of bleeding, particularly gastrointestinal. What is still missing is proof that the benefits of taking aspirin outweigh the risks."