An aspirin daily makes cancer patients 25 per cent more likely to survive disease

A new research now suggests that taking aspirin significantly increases the chances of survival for thousands of cancer patients.

Scientists found cancer patients already taking low dose of aspirin were up to 25 per cent more likely to be alive at any time after diagnosis.

Notably, the elderly are already being advised by doctors to take the cheap over-the-counter pills daily to prevent strokes.

The Cardiff University research, which analysed 71 studies of aspirin's effects, indicated the drug should be taken far more widely.

Speaking about the study, lead researcher Professor Peter Elwood said that the use of low-dose aspirin as a preventive in heart disease, stroke and cancer is well established.

He added that there is now evidence suggesting that the drug may have a valuable role as an additional treatment for cancer too.

The study saw patients with bowel cancer, while breast and prostate cancer accounted for most of the rest and very few of the patients suffered from serious stomach bleeding, a known potential side-effect of aspirin.

The research published in PLOS Medicine said the review showed a reduction of deaths by 25 per cent in colon cancer, 20 per cent in breast cancer and around a 15 per cent reduction in prostate cancer deaths.

The authors wrote, “There is also evidence of a substantial reduction in the incidence of metastatic spread of these cancers, together with a reduction in all-cause mortality across all the cancers.”