Daily aspirin can decrease cancer risk, says a new study

A new study adds weight to previous findings that suggest an aspirin a day could cut the risk of cancer.

Researchers warned of the study's limitations in declaring aspirin a new cancer prevention method but found that those who take aspirin regularly had an 16 percent decrease in cancer mortality.

“Although recent evidence about aspirin use and cancer is encouraging, it is still premature to recommend people start taking aspirin specifically to prevent cancer," said study author Eric Jacobs of the American Cancer Society, reported the Petri Dish.

”Decisions about aspirin use should be made by balancing the risks against the benefits in the context of each individual’s medical history." 

Jacobs added that, "any decision about daily aspirin use should be made only in consultation with a health-care professional.”

The study looked at over 100,000 people that took part in the American Cancer Society’s cancer prevention study, reported the Chicago Tribune.

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Researchers not only found a small decrease in cancer risk in those that took the painkiller regularly but also found that it provided the same benefit to those who had done so for less than five years.

Despite the positive news, the researchers did not find daily aspirin as beneficial as a previous study last March.

According to Time, a study from Oxford University found that the drug cut cancer risk by 37 percent – a number believed to be far too high.

Aspirin has already been recommended for those who are at risk of heart disease if the doctors believe that the benefits outweigh the risks.

Whether official guidelines will include aspirin for cancer prevention is still up in the air awaiting further study.

The new report was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute,