Aspirin for prevention of cancer and cardiovascular disease.

INTRODUCTION Aspirin was discovered in 1897 and marketed initially as an analgesic. Over the years it has been used for other purposes including the prevention of both arterial and venous thrombosis, and as an antiinflammatory drug.More recently there has been interest in the use of aspirin for primary and secondary prevention of cancer. A recent study published in the Lancet,1 showing impressive benefits of low dose aspirin in reducing both cancer mortality and all-cause mortality, received a lot of press publicity. The Daily Mail for example, claimed ‘Aspirin really can beat cancer’.2 No doubt following this publicity many primary care doctors have been asked the question ‘Doctor, should I be taking aspirin?’. In this article we discuss how this latest publication fits in with previous evidence, and the clinical implications of the findings in relation to the primary prevention of cancer.