Contents:
- Medical Video: Tracking cancer with a blood test
- Said research on aspirin and cancer
- How effective is aspirin for cancer treatment?
- What is the dose of aspirin to help treat cancer?
Medical Video: Tracking cancer with a blood test
Aspirin is the most widely used drug in the world. Aspirin is the first NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory) drug found in the world. Generally this aspirin drug is used as a pain reliever. In addition, this drug can also be used to reduce fever, anti-inflammatory and blood thinners. Well, now some studies show that aspirin can also be used as a cancer treatment. Is there any benefit of aspirin for cancer treatment?
Said research on aspirin and cancer
A study in 2012 conducted an experiment to test the effects of aspirin. The researchers made 2 groups to test, the group taking aspirin every day, and another group who did not get aspirin treatment.
Researchers found that the group who took aspirin and had been diagnosed with early stage cancer (there was no spread of cancer) had a much slower development of cancer, and the spread of cancer to other places that were longer.
The study also found that people who took aspirin, when viewed at the initial diagnosis of cancer, most of the condition of the cancer is still localized or still in one place and has not spread compared to people who do not take aspirin.
Reporting from Cancer Research UK, in August 2014 the scientists also found that aspirin was especially more effective in reducing the risk of the spread of colon, stomach, and esophageal cancers. In addition, it can also reduce the risk of lung, prostate and breast cancer but is not as effective as the types of colon, stomach, and esophageal cancer.
From these findings experts feel quite optimistic because it could be a breakthrough in new affordable treatments. However, further research is still needed on how effective treatment with aspirin is for cancer.
How effective is aspirin for cancer treatment?
Some studies have shown that aspirin can indeed help prevent certain types of cancer and reduce the spread of cancer. However, that does not mean that all people at risk for cancer or who have cancer should start taking aspirin.
The positive effects of aspirin do not affect people under 50 years of age, but the benefits will appear at the age of 50 and above. The use of aspirin for the treatment of cancer is indeed still being observed further, and cannot be equated for every case of cancer.
Aspirin basically has side effects that must be considered. Researchers don't yet know whether the benefits of aspirin can outweigh the side effects, or vice versa. Therefore, it cannot be carelessly using aspirin directly in cancer patients.
People who have cancer cannot be completely dependent on aspirin to treat the disease, whatever the type of cancer.
Aspirin itself has serious side effects for some people. One of them triggers bleeding in the body. Some people with cancer actually have a higher risk of bleeding than normal people. Therefore, these side effects must be highly considered.
Some cancer drugs can also cause side effects that are quite dangerous if taken along with aspirin, so you need proper consideration by a doctor.
In addition, aspirin can cause more serious complications if the cancer patient experiences medical conditions such as asthma, stomach ulcers, and hemophilia (blood clotting disorders).
What is the dose of aspirin to help treat cancer?
Until now, there were no specific guidelines recommending how many doses of aspirin for cancer treatment.
However, in a study that found that aspirin was able to prevent or slow the growth of cancer cells, so far the dosages used were different. Some use doses of 75 mg to 300 mg.
However, the dose cannot be immediately followed without a doctor's examination first. In essence, no matter what type of medicine, it should not exceed the dose that can be tolerated by the body. If excessive, serious side effects will appear.
