Aspirin May Help to Prevent Breast Cancer
October 30, 2011 by admin
Filed under Breast Cancer, Cancer, Cancer Prevention, Weekly Health Update, aspirin, breast cancer prevention, breast cancer risk
Welcome to Weekly Health UpdateA large meta-analysis suggests that aspirin may lower a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. ASPIRIN MAY HELP TO PREVENT BREAST CANCER As I have discussed in my bestselling book, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race, aspirin may have an important potential role in the prevention of certain types of cancer, including colorectal cancer and pancreatic cancer. However, the available research data on aspirin as a breast cancer prevention medication has been rather mixed, to date. A new meta-analysis study, which appears in the current issue of the journal Breast Cancer Research & Treatment, adds weight to previous studies suggesting a potential role for aspirin in the prevention of breast cancer. In this meta-analysis, the results of 33 different clinical research studies were analyzed. Altogether, nearly two million research volunteers participated in these 33 studies. When considering the results of these 33 different research studies, the authors of this meta-analysis determined that the regular use of aspirin was associated with an average 14 percent reduction in the risk of developing breast cancer. While this meta-analysis study showed an overall trend towards a decreased risk of developing breast cancer in women who regularly took aspirin, there is one very important caveat that I must emphasize. Only one of the 33 research studies that were analyzed in this meta-analysis was a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study (i.e., the type of clinical research study that provides the highest level of scientific and clinical findings), and it was this study, alone among the 33 different clinical studies, that did not find any breast cancer prevention benefit associated with regular aspirin use. While all but one of the 33 clinical research studies in this meta-analysis identified a significant reduction in breast cancer risk in women who regularly took aspirin, the failure of the lone prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical research trial to confirm this finding means that additional prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled research studies will need to be performed before aspirin can be definitively recommended as a breast cancer prevention medication. As I have stressed before, all medications, including aspirin, can be associated with potentially serious side effects. Therefore, if you are considering aspirin therapy, for the prevention of heart disease or cancer, then it is very important for you to check with your doctor before you begin taking aspirin.
For a comprehensive guide to living an evidence-based cancer prevention lifestyle, order your copy of my new book, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race. For the price of a cheeseburger, fries, and a shake, you can purchase this landmark new book, in both paperback and e-book formats, and begin living an evidence-based cancer prevention lifestyle today! For a groundbreaking overview of cancer risks, and evidence-based strategies to reduce your risk of developing cancer, order your copy of my new book, “A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race,” from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million,Vroman’s Bookstore, and other fine bookstores! On Thanksgiving Day, 2010, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race was ranked #6 among all cancer-related books on the Amazon.com “Top 100 Bestseller’s List” for Kindle e-books! On Christmas Day, 2010, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race was the #1 book on the Amazon.com “Top 100 New Book Releases in Cancer” list! Disclaimer: As always, my advice to readers is to seek the advice of your physician before making any significant changes in medications, diet, or level of physical activity Dr. Wascher is an oncologic surgeon, professor of surgery, cancer researcher, oncology consultant, and a widely published author For a different perspective on Dr. Wascher, please click on the following YouTube link: I and the staff of Weekly Health Update would again like to take this opportunity to thank the more than 100,000 health-conscious people, from around the world, who visit this premier global health information website every month. (More than 1.2 million health-conscious people visited Weekly Health Update in 2010!) As always, we enjoy receiving your stimulating feedback and questions, and I will continue to try and personally answer as many of your inquiries as I possibly can.
|
|
Aspirin May Reduce the Risk of Deadly Pancreatic Cancer
October 16, 2011 by admin
Filed under Cancer, Cancer Prevention, Robert Wascher, Steve Jobs, Weekly Health Update, aspirin, health, pancreatic cancer
Welcome to Weekly Health Update
New research shows that aspirin may significantly reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest of all cancers.
ASPIRIN MAY REDUCE THE RISK OF DEADLY PANCREATIC CANCER The recent tragic death of Steve Jobs, of Apple fame, due to a rare form of pancreatic cancer has once again focused public attention on one of the deadliest forms of cancer. The more common form of pancreatic cancer, pancreatic ductal cancer, is only the tenth most common form of cancer, but because it is such a lethal disease, pancreatic cancer is actually the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death. Sadly, only about 5 percent of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer will still be alive 5 years later. In my book, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race, I extensively discuss the available research findings that can help to lower your risk of pancreatic cancer, and other deadly forms of cancer. (Also, please see my recent report on pancreatic cancer prevention on Newsmax.) Now, a newly published clinical research study suggests that aspirin, which has also been shown to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, may also significantly reduce the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. This new research study appears in the journal Cancer Prevention Research. This clinical research study was performed at the Mayo Clinic, and included 904 patients recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and 1,224 healthy age-matched and gender-matched “control” patients. In this case-control study, the impact of aspirin intake was analyzed in both groups of patients. In this study, the use of aspirin at least one day per month was associated with a very significant 26 percent reduction in the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Among patients who took low-dose aspirin (81 mg per day) every day for heart disease prevention, the risk of pancreatic cancer was reduced by 33 percent. The findings of this important study suggest that the humble aspirin tablet may significantly reduce the risk of developing what is arguably the most lethal of all cancers (in addition to reducing the risk of colorectal cancer and, potentially, other cancers as well). As I discuss in A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race, even a relatively modest reduction in the risk of the deadliest types of cancer can be an important achievement, because our therapies for these kinds of cancer, including pancreatic cancer, so rarely result in a cure. While this case-control study is not as statistically powerful as a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical research study, prior laboratory and clinical research studies have also shown that aspirin can reduce pancreatic cancer cell growth. The findings of these previous studies, therefore, generally support the findings of this new Mayo Clinic study suggesting that aspirin may, indeed, reduce the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. I must caution readers that aspirin, like all medications, can be associated with significant side effects. In the case of aspirin, specifically, GI tract irritation can cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and even GI tract bleeding. Aspirin can also increase the risk of bleeding in other areas of the body, and can be toxic to the kidneys in some patients as well. Therefore, if you are considering the addition of low-dose aspirin to your cancer prevention lifestyle, you should first check with your personal physician to ensure that it is safe for you to do so.
For a comprehensive guide to living an evidence-based cancer prevention lifestyle, order your copy of my new book, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race. For the price of a cheeseburger, fries, and a shake, you can purchase this landmark new book, in both paperback and e-book formats, and begin living an evidence-based cancer prevention lifestyle today! For a groundbreaking overview of cancer risks, and evidence-based strategies to reduce your risk of developing cancer, order your copy of my new book, “A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race,” from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million,Vroman’s Bookstore, and other fine bookstores! On Thanksgiving Day, 2010, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race was ranked #6 among all cancer-related books on the Amazon.com “Top 100 Bestseller’s List” for Kindle e-books! On Christmas Day, 2010, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race was the #1 book on the Amazon.com “Top 100 New Book Releases in Cancer” list! Disclaimer: As always, my advice to readers is to seek the advice of your physician before making any significant changes in medications, diet, or level of physical activity Dr. Wascher is an oncologic surgeon, professor of surgery, cancer researcher, oncology consultant, and a widely published author For a different perspective on Dr. Wascher, please click on the following YouTube link: I and the staff of Weekly Health Update would again like to take this opportunity to thank the more than 100,000 health-conscious people, from around the world, who visit this premier global health information website every month. (More than 1.2 million health-conscious people visited Weekly Health Update in 2010!) As always, we enjoy receiving your stimulating feedback and questions, and I will continue to try and personally answer as many of your inquiries as I possibly can.
|
|
|
Aspirin May Prevent Pancreatic Cancer
August 7, 2011 by admin
Filed under Cancer, Cancer Prevention, Colorectal Cancer, NSAIDs, Weekly Health Update, aspirin, colon cancer, coronary artery disease, health, heart disease, pancreatic cancer
Welcome to Weekly Health Update |
|
|
Low Dose Aspirin Reduces Colorectal Cancer Risk
November 20, 2010 by admin
Filed under Cancer, Cancer Prevention, Colorectal Cancer, Weekly Health Update, aspirin, health
Welcome to Weekly Health Update“A critical weekly review of important new research findings for health-conscious readers”
LOW DOSE ASPIRIN REDUCES COLORECTAL CANCER RISK Colorectal cancer is the third most common cause of cancer-associated death in the United States (and in many other countries around the world). Diet, obesity, and other lifestyle factors are known to play a significant role in colorectal cancer risk, as I discuss in detail in my new book, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including aspirin, have been shown to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. Unfortunately, the majority of non-aspirin NSAIDs have been shown to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, and so these drugs are seldom used, today, for colorectal cancer prevention. (In most cases, their use for this purpose has become largely restricted to patients with inherited gene mutations that place them at extremely high risk for developing colorectal cancer.) While high daily doses of aspirin have been shown to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, this form of cancer prevention therapy also has significant risks, including serious GI tract bleeding and kidney damage. Until very recently, there has been very little high quality research data available regarding the effectiveness of low-dose aspirin therapy on colorectal cancer risk. Now, a newly published study in the prestigious journal, The Lancet, indicates that low-dose aspirin therapy can, indeed, significantly reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. This report actually combines the long-term results from four large prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical research studies (the Swedish Aspirin Low Dose Trial, UK-TIA Aspirin Trial, the Thrombosis Prevention Trial, and the British Doctors Aspirin Trial). Altogether, a whopping 14,033 patient volunteers were studied in these research trials, and the average duration of patient follow-up was a very impressive 18.3 years. Overall, the use of 75 milligrams (mg) of aspirin per day, for 5 years or longer, dramatically reduced the risk of cancer in the upper colon, by about 70 percent. While the incidence of lower colon cancer was not significantly reduced by low-dose aspirin therapy, the risk of rectal cancer was reduced by a very significant 42 percent. Moreover, increased daily doses of aspirin (above 75 mg) did not result in any further decrease in the risk of colon cancer or rectal cancer. The findings of this very large clinical research study represent a very significant breakthrough in our understanding of the role of aspirin in colorectal cancer prevention and, especially, in the optimization of daily aspirin dosing to maximize this drug’s cancer prevention benefit while simultaneously reducing the known (and sometimes serious) adverse side effects of chronic aspirin therapy. As always, I must remind readers that they should first consult with their doctor prior to beginning aspirin therapy, as some health conditions may be associated with an increased risk of severe side effects when taking aspirin.
Click the following link to join Dr. Wascher on Facebook
GIVE THE GIFT OF HEALTH THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. For a groundbreaking overview of cancer risks, and evidence-based strategies to reduce your risk of developing cancer, order your copy of my new book, “A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race,” from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Vroman’s Bookstore, and other fine bookstores!
Disclaimer: As always, my advice to readers is to seek the advice of your physician before making any significant changes in medications, diet, or level of physical activity
Dr. Wascher is an oncologic surgeon, a professor of surgery, a cancer researcher, an oncology consultant, and a widely published author
For a different perspective on Dr. Wascher, please click on the following YouTube link:
I and the staff of Weekly Health Update would again like to take this opportunity to thank the more than 100,000 health-conscious people, from around the world, who visit this premier global health information website every month. (As of 9/16/2010, more than 1,000,000 health-conscious people have logged onto Weekly Health Update so far this year!) As always, I enjoy receiving your stimulating feedback and questions, and I will continue to try and personally answer as many of your inquiries as I possibly can. |
|
|
Aspirin & Breast Cancer Survival
March 28, 2010 by admin
Filed under Weekly Health Update
Welcome to Weekly Health Update“A critical weekly review of important new research findings for health-conscious readers”
ASPIRIN & BREAST CANCER SURVIVAL
Breast cancer tumors, like many other types of cancer, produce increased amounts of chemicals called prostaglandins. As with many other types of cancer, prostaglandins are thought to play an important role in the growth and spread of breast cancer. Aspirin belongs to a class of drugs known as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Like other NSAIDs, aspirin is able to block the activity of the prostaglandin-producing enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX). Moreover, previous research has indicated that, in addition to decreasing prostaglandin production in the body, aspirin also reduces the levels of estrogen in the body (approximately 90 percent of breast cancers are stimulated to grow in the presence of estrogen). Previous research on aspirin as a breast cancer prevention drug has resulted in contradictory findings (although aspirin and other NSAIDs have clearly been shown to reduce the incidence of colorectal polyps and colorectal cancer, and other cancers as well). However, a newly published study, in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, adds weight to prior evidence that the regular intake of aspirin may significantly decrease the risk of breast cancer recurrence, and the risk of death due to recurrent breast cancer. The enormous Nurses’ Health Study is a prospective public health research study that began in 1976 with more than 120,000 female nurses in the United States. Every 2 years, this huge cohort of women completes detailed personal questionnaires regarding diet and lifestyle factors related to cardiovascular disease and cancer. Between 1976 and 2002, more than 4,000 nurses participating in this study were newly diagnosed with breast cancer. The researchers conducting this landmark study then analyzed the incidence of breast cancer recurrence, and the risk of death, among these 4,164 breast cancer patients as a function of their aspirin intake. (Other cancer-associated diet and lifestyle risk factors were also analyzed, as well.) In this huge prospective public health trial, regular aspirin intake was found to significantly reduce the risk of death due to breast cancer. Taking aspirin 2 to 5 times per week was associated with a 71 percent reduction in the relative risk of death due to breast cancer, while 6 to 7 days of aspirin use per week was associated with a 64 percent reduction in the relative risk of cancer-associated death. Importantly, this apparent aspirin-associated reduction in the risk of death due to breast cancer recurrence was observed in women with both early-stage and more advanced breast cancers, in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women, in both obese and non-obese women, and in women with estrogen-sensitive and estrogen-resistant tumors. While this study’s primary weakness is that (like most epidemiological studies) the collected data was primarily based upon patient questionnaires, the Nurses’ Health Study continues to be a carefully conducted prospective study with very stringent data quality controls in place. To summarize the important findings of this study: Among women previously diagnosed with breast cancer, taking aspirin for 2 or more days per week was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of both breast cancer recurrence and death due to breast cancer. (As always, I recommend that you discuss the potential risks and benefits of regularly taking aspirin, or any other new medication, with your doctor before making such changes.)
To learn more about the potential role of NSAIDs in cancer risk reduction, look for the publication of my new landmark book, “A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race,” in the spring/summer of this year. Disclaimer: As always, my advice to readers is to seek the advice of your physician before making any significant changes in medications, diet, or level of physical activity Dr. Wascher is an oncologic surgeon, a professor of surgery, a cancer researcher, an oncology consultant, and a widely published author For a different perspective on Dr. Wascher, please click on the following YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-Tdv7XW0qg I and the staff of Weekly Health Update would like to take this opportunity to thank the nearly 120,000 new and returning readers who visited our premier global health information website last month. As always, we enjoy receiving your stimulating feedback and questions, and I will continue to try and personally answer as many of your inquiries as I possibly can. In view of the extreme devastation and human misery brought about in Haiti and Chile by the recent earthquakes, Weekly Health Update asks our tens of thousands of caring readers to give generously to established charities that are currently working in those countries to assist the injured, the ill, and the homeless. There are many such legitimate charities, including the following two:
http://www.imcworldwide.org/haiti |
|
|
