In a presentation that will occur at this year’s annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology Dr Kevin Choe will present the results of a study that shows that the use of aspirin and other anticoagulant medications is associated with around a 47% decrease in death risk for prostate cancer patients whose tumors have not metastasized.

Of course, aspirin use demonstrated the highest risk reduction.

I’d give you a link to the article, but it hasn’t been published yet.

You can get a preview of what it has to say at these links.

http://www.ehospitalistnews.com/news/nephrology/single-article/astro-anticoagulants-especially-aspirin-seem-to-cut-the-risk-of-prostate-cancer-death/8c0a4bc4f7.html

http://www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/news/20101025/aspirin-may-cut-prostate-cancer-deaths

The authors propose a mechanism for this effect that involves prevention of platelets surrounding and protecting cancer cells that are entering blood circulation.

This actually might make sense, although I suspect that the superior effect observed for aspirin is the result of their effect combinging with the effect of aspirin on COX enzyme pathways and their stimulation of inflammation and metastasis activity.

Anyway, their observations and theory are very interesting.

Of course, it’s too early to recommend that people take an aspirin a day to cut their cancer risks.

Yeah, right.

I’m going to keep taking mine. You’ll have to decide on your own what you want to do.

Again, Pharmacists Pharmacist. Doctors Doctor. You should NEVER start a medication or alter your medication regimens without talking to your physician first. Be safe.