Daily aspirin reduces estrogen receptor positive breast cancer risk

A report published online on April 30, 2008 in the journal Breast Cancer Research concluded that the use of aspirin on a daily basis reduced the risk of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, which makes up 75 percent of breast cancer cases. These cancers have receptors on their surface for female hormone estrogen, which fuels the tumors’ growth.

Gretchen L. Gierach and her colleagues at the National Cancer Institute evaluated data from 127,383 women aged 51 to 72 who were enrolled in the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study, which examined the relationship between diet, health-related behaviors and cancer. Questionnaires completed upon enrollment between1995 and 1996 provided information on diet history, demographic characteristics and other data. A second questionnaire completed between 1996 and 1997 collected information concerning medication use, including aspirin and nonaspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Breast cancer cases were identified through cancer registry information through the end of 2003. Continue Reading