Aspirin and cancer: the emerging evidence

The title makes it sound like Aspirin CAUSES cancer. I suggest you rename the talk to "Aspirin and the Prevention of Cancer: The Emerging Evidence."

By the time my endometrial sarcoma was diagnosed, it had reached stage 4B, the very final stage. Prognosis was 15% survival in 3 years' time, 7% without chemo and radiation. I opted for a hysterectomy and a lung lobectomy, where a nearly 2 cm encapsulated tumor was found, but no chemo or radiotherapy. Prior to this, I had been taking a daily dose of 100 mg of aspirin for years. Even though cancer cells had migrated to the lung, apparently the immune system noticed it and encapsulated it to protect the lung. According to Professor Elwood, the aspirin would have been responsible for enhancing the immune system's recognition of the interloper. No cancer was found in any of the nearby organs. I also started taking fenbendazole after getting the diagnosis in early April. A months later when I went into hospital for the hysterectomy the surgeon found no cancer in the lymph system or anywhere else. In July a PET scan was performed before the lung lobectomy - again no cancer activities were found. It's now a year on and the last CT scan showed that I continue to be cancer free.

My dad had heart problems had heart bypass surgery. His doctor recommended aspirin. He took it after surgery for 25 years. He lived a good life till he passed at 96

True scientist following the evidence and not the money. Thank you.

I so thank this man for stating the fact that the public should have a voice in their own medical interventions. Bless him.

For the benefit of those who may not wish to spend an hour watching this video. The research indicates that aspirin can reduce the incidence or severity of cancer. You should watch the entire video for full details. however, I was confused by the title as were many other People.

I'd read about this a long time ago. I've taken thousands of aspirin for arthritis. I'm now 76 and honestly believe aspirin has helped me live this long.

To everyone reading this, I sincerely pray for that whatever is causing you pain or stress will pass. May your negative thoughts, excessive worries and doubts disappear, replaced by clarity and understanding. May your life be filled with peace, tranquility and love

I have taken baby aspirin for 20 years. 100 mg. Although I have minor health issues, apirin has been a helper in my case. I was saved by aspirin when I was 2 weeks old. I am now over 70. So, I will swear by aspirin.

I have been using willow bark as a pain killer for years now, and as many people know, Aspirin is a synthesised form of salicylic acid found in the inner bark of willow trees. I get my willow bark from a neighbour’s tree, which is cut back regularly. If you cut the willow in the spring as the sap is rising, it is very easy to peel and separate the inner and outer bark, which is then dried on the doorstep. To use it I chop a strip of dried bark, one or two teaspoons worth, and steep in boiled water for about 15 minutes. You get a pinkish liquid which is tolerably bitter. I have encouraged several friends who are on high doses of pain killers to do their own research, and if they are happy to try it, to give it a go. I have had great feedback of people coming off, or greatly reducing their intake of strong pain killers, which they have been on for years. I wonder if the bark contains something else which works in tandem with the active salicylic acid to amplify it’s effect over that of the synthesised version? I also use it to improve rooting for cuttings from the garden.

This is fascinating. This team should be proud of their work. Over and over again, we hear the truth, which is that no money is going to support legitimate studies into any substance that does not have some kind of patent that somebody can get. That;s just the way things are in this world. Thank goodness for folks like these, who look into things that can help people regardless of mow much someone can make on it.

Summarized for quick navigation: 00:01 🎙️ Introduction to Professor Peter Elwood - Professor Peter Elwood's background and qualifications, - Overview of his extensive research spanning over 50 years, particularly in disease prevention. 02:26 📚 Initiating Aspirin Research and Early Trials - Formation of the Kefili cohort study in 1979, - Initial randomized controlled trial on aspirin in the secondary prevention of myocardial infarction, - Recognition of the simplicity of aspirin's molecular structure and its historical roots in herbal medicine. 08:41 🌿 Entry into Aspirin and Cancer Research - Overview of Professor Elwood's transition into aspirin and cancer research in 2009, - Reference to the Lancet review on aspirin, salicylates, and cancer, - Establishment of the groundwork for subsequent studies on aspirin and cancer. 09:23 🩸 Safety of Aspirin: Stomach Bleed Analysis - Comprehensive analysis of a systematic literature search on stomach bleeds attributed to aspirin, - Focus on the severity of bleeds, particularly fatal ones, - Clarification of the misconception regarding fatal bleeds linked to aspirin. 13:19 ⚖️ Risk-Benefit Analysis of Aspirin - Discussion of risk-benefit balance concerning stomach bleeds and reduction in cancer deaths, - Emphasis on the trivial nature of most stomach bleeds and the rarity of serious or fatal bleeds, - Clarification of the misleading claims about aspirin causing fatal bleeds. 23:23 🔬 Aspirin's Biological Mechanisms and Clinical Outcomes - Overview of the recent publication on biological mechanisms and clinical outcomes of aspirin, - Highlighting the harmony between aspirin's effects on biological mechanisms and clinical outcomes, - Specific mention of the role of aspirin in enhancing DNA repair mechanisms. 27:23 💊 Aspirin as Additional Cancer Treatment: Observational Studies - Explanation of the limitations of observational studies in assessing aspirin's impact on cancer patients, - Reference to the extensive literature search covering around a million patients with cancer, - Acknowledgment of the complexity and variability in measures of mortality used across studies. 29:21 📊 Overview of Cancer Mortality Studies - Analysis of 118 published observational reports on cancer mortality. - Focus on all-cause mortality using Hazard ratio and odds ratio. - Bottom-line results for colon cancer show a 26% reduction in mortality. 30:44 🔄 Evidence Across Different Cancers - Inclusion of 36 reports on less common cancers with a 20% reduction in mortality. - Validation of the approach to study all cancers, not just common ones. - Duration of additional survival varies across cancers, emphasizing individualized considerations. 35:24 📉 Modeling Approach to Survival Prediction - Liverpool group's predictive equation suggests a 5-year increase in colon cancer survival with aspirin. - Acknowledgment of skepticism towards modeling studies. - Importance of considering modeling results in the context of other evidence. 37:12 🔍 Challenges of Observational Studies and Randomized Control Trials - Limitations of observational studies: differences in patient characteristics. - Randomized control trials' difficulty due to the lack of commercial interest in aspirin. - Highlighting low compliance with aspirin, especially in long-term studies. 40:51 ⚖️ Randomized Trial Results and Subgroup Challenges - Overview of Rothwell's long-term follow-up studies suggesting lower cancer deaths with aspirin. - Mention of the recent trial on advanced breast cancer with a 27% increase in relapses. - Caution on interpreting subgroup results, emphasizing the need for comprehensive evaluation. 42:43 🌐 Summary and Ethical Considerations - Safety of aspirin established beyond a reasonable doubt. - Lack of definitive proof on effectiveness but promising biological mechanisms. - Ethical duty to inform the public about evidence, considering the legal and ethical framework. 46:08 🌍 Public Involvement and Global Impact - Advocacy for public involvement in health decisions. - Reference to a citizen's jury supporting patient involvement. - Potential global impact of promoting aspirin for cancer prevention. 49:12 📚 References to Publications - Three key publications summarizing safety, clinical evidence, and biological mechanisms. - Emphasis on open-access journals for accessibility. - Encouragement for further exploration and understanding of the presented evidence.

So wonderful that I can listen to current medical lectures without having to travel. This is very much appreciated.

👏👏👏👏👏 My Wife of 44 years was diagnosed with cervical cancer several years ago, the breast cancer after first treatment, then bone cancer. She lost her mother to pancreatic cancer, and this had me worried. We really don’t talk much about it these days, but are willing to share our fears on occasions. With my Melanoma, well I had a heart attack some time ago and while in the CCU getting stabilised prior to surgery, a care giver noticed my back. Well, he glared at me and we talked, next was the surgeon and then my heart surgeon. My wife was 200 miles away and caring for 4 of our grandkids. I didn’t tell her for a while, and boy oh boy, did I cop it a week later when I told her, in recovery after OHS. But it wasn’t the type of news you give the love of your life over the phone. Anyway, after 3 ops they were very happy withe the results, lost a lot of my back, but we are together looking after our grandchildren, nothing else matters. And yes, I do take my aspirin everyday. Thank you for this presentation, I found it extremely well presented, thank you all for your work.

I have been taking 100mg a day for 20 tears now. An old doctor put me onto it when i was in my 40s as a blood thinner to help prevent hereditory heart attacks and aneurysm. So far so good.

I took aspirin regularly in the belief it reduced risk of heart problems. One day, on a walk, I found I could not keep up with an 88 year old woman and I was out of breath. My doctor immediately sent me to a cardiologist and for a blood test. Next morning, she phoned me and said "Cancel the cardiologist - you have extremely severe anaemia'. A colonoscopy and other examinations of the digestive system (including swallowing a TV camera pill) revealed nothing. I stopped taking aspirin and my hemoglobin level returned to normal. So taking aspirin is not entirely risk free.

My folks died of old age 15 years ago. They took low-dose aspirin daily for 20+ years and were never sick. They were physically and mentally active. They danced and laughed. Their attitude was amazing!!! They both survived the Great Depression as orphans, The Dust Bowl, WW2, and came out on top. Wish I'd never gone to a doctor.

I have taken aspirin regularly despite doctors getting mad about it but it's been the only thing that has helped certain health issues that other medications did not work on. So glad aspirin is now getting the thumbs up.

I noticed in the comments, some people question why 81mg for a low dose Aspirin? Why not 80mg or 75mg? Whenever you take a low dose Aspirin, you are linking back to the Middle Ages, and the world of apothecaries. Early medicinal dosage used the apothecary system, based on the weight of a grain of barleycorn, the therefore the units of measurement was grains. By the late 1800’s, the metric system of measurement was firmly established for medicinal dosage, however, the apothecary units were still used by many pharmacists for the next 100 years. For Aspirin, the normal adult dose was 5 grains (gr) which equals 325mg. In the apothecary system, it was common to use a ¼ dose for babies; 1.25 gr, which equals 81mg. Now you know.

When I boxed amateur, the number one pain medication was crushed aspirin mixed with rubbing alcohol an rubbed on the area that was hurt/brused. In 2-3 minutes the pain was gone an you felt great.