aspirin and BC

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Lojo
Lojo Member Posts: 303
edited August 2014 in Clinical Trials, Research News, Podcasts, and Study Results

I'm sure someone else has posted, but I just saw this showing reduction in BC deaths in women prescribed aspirin post-diagnosis

http://www.nature.com/bjc/journal/v111/n3/full/bjc2014264a.html

There was another study published earlier this year of a similar nature that showed no linkage

http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/14/391/

I haven't been able to access the full text of the first, but the second paper covers a really short time period (2005-2009), which makes me wonder as to the statistical power.

I have been taking two or three low dose aspirin a week since diagnosis - in general when I need it for aches and pains (which it sort of helps, but might be a placebo more than anything else) and I figure it can't hurt at that dose (and I'm also on tamoxifen)

Any statistical gurus want to opine about whether the stats on these two papers are meaningful? I know we won't really have an answer about aspirin until someone does a double-blind, placebo controlled study.

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  • Manu14
    Manu14 Member Posts: 153
    edited August 2014

    I can't get either of your links to open so don't know if it's my problem with Safari or something else. I have read some articles about it though. I'm not enough of a statistician to comment in that sense, but like you I figure I will hedge on the side of possible gaining some benefit on a variety fronts from low dose aspirin. 

    Three months ago I started taking a low dose aspirin every other day at bedtime. I figure it might help in several ways: lowering risk of stroke or heart issues from tamoxifen; studies showing long-term use reduces incidence of colon cancer; and now initial findings of potential benefits for breast cancer. I take it at night ever since I read a journal article that it was more beneficial for reducing heart/stroke problems than taking in the morning. Looking forward to hearing others' comments and will keep trying to open the links.

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  • cp418
    cp418 Member Posts: 7,079
    edited August 2014

    http://time.com/3109036/how-aspirin-can-prevent-breast-cancer/

    How Aspirin Can Prevent Breast Cancer Among overweight and obese women, the painkiller could help to prevent tumors from recurring

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  • Lojo
    Lojo Member Posts: 303
    edited August 2014

    Trying the links again

    http://www.nature.com/bjc/journal/v111/n3/full/bjc2014264a.html

    http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/14/391/


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  • savgigi
    savgigi Member Posts: 376
    edited August 2014

    I have been taking aspirin for at least 15 years and it did not prevent my breast cancer. I believe there are also studies to see if metformin will prevent breast cancer. I have been on metformin for 5 years. I believe there there may be associations between these meds and lower rates of cancer, as there are associations between obesity, inactivity, etc and higher rates of cancer. But my personal opinion is do not hang your hat on this study. Breast cancer is too complex a disease to to say that any one thing will cause or prevent the disease.

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  • birdlady222
    birdlady222 Member Posts: 276
    edited August 2014

    That would be wonderful if it worked, however there are many women who (like myself) who take blood thinners.  I am not to take aspirin or anything containing aspirin.  :-(

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