Aspirin: A Blockbuster Therapy for Breast Cancer Survivors?

Reader Comments
Back to article

Is it because aspirin has anti-angiogenesis properties? If so, what about spices that are anti-angiogenesis?

Rachel of IL 11:04AM March 19, 2012

Wife is at 40 and just finished Herceptin and on Tamoxifen. (Her2+ and er+) Talked to Onc and she said ok to asprin. This study was apparently was published in the CURE magazine.

brian of WA 3:25PM August 05, 2010

I am thinking about taking aspirin myself, as i have secondary breast cancer. I don't think it would do any harm. Let's face it I have nothing to lose. i am a 58 yr old gran.

Patricia Lloyd 2:18PM July 19, 2010

I just completed a year of Herceptin as well, after doing months of chemo and 6 weeks of radiation. My oncologist recommended that I take an aspirin each day. It should be 81mg/day. I want to give myself the best odds of this NEVER coming back. I am only 38 and have 2 young children. That's what kept me going through this whole ordeal!

Amy of AZ 12:23AM June 26, 2010

I had breast cancer in 2009 and taking Herceptin. I will start an aspirin after reading this article whether it works or not there's truley no harm in trying it. I went through months of chemo then weeks of radiation and they aren't sure that will "work" either but I did it so taking an aspirin a day seems trivial in comparison. I am 41 and the mother of a 5 year old little girl and I intend to do anything and everything to make sure I'm still here for her for as long as I can be.

Effie Harmston of IL 10:10AM June 06, 2010

I have always been a little skeptical about the results that have come from the NURSES' HEALTH STUDY. This observational study provided most of the data on HRT'S alleged heart benefits before clinical trials (WHI) actually proved otherwise. Now while MOST of what NHS found wound up mirroring the WHI (more breast cancers, strokes, blood clots, and cognitive decline with estrogen use), the cardiovascular findings were markedly different - clinical trials show risk, NHS showed benefit.
NHS also does not match up with the more rigorous Women's Health Study (WHS) on aspirin. WHS, the only longterm clinical trial of aspirin, showed no cancer benefits at all except for fewer cases of lung cancer and lung cancer deaths. But NHS like many other observational studies have shown countless cancer benefits from aspirin use - less breast, ovarian, lung, colon, and prostate cancer. In addition, WHS showed that aspirin was ineffective in preventing heart disease in women.
Now while I do not think aspirin is "bad" by any means, I just don't think these new data on breast cancer are conclusive, namely because NHS is observational and not a clinical trial and is therefore fundamentally flawed.

Jonathan R. of DC 10:51AM April 16, 2010

How many mg. asprin and how many times a week? Does name brand matter?

Paula of OH 8:50AM March 14, 2010

I had Breast Cancer in 2009 and and taking Tamoxafin. I have started taking Baby Aspirin not only for the blood clots it could cause in my legs, but also for the help that it could stop reoccurance, which I am afraid of. I am 45 and have three choldren and need to stay Cancer free, no matter what the cost or fight. My Oncologist is very stern and old school and will probably tell me that it won't help, but I have done a lot of research on it and will take an aspirin every other day.. I also have heart disease in the Family so my Heart will hopefully benefit from it as well.

Jocelyn Richardone of NY 3:19PM March 11, 2010

LOTS of fish oil safety concerns right now - google fish oil and 2010 - all brands are testing way too high for a dangerous chemical that is in the body of the fish used - basically due to polluted waters - seems to be a real toxicity concern. The dangerous chemical is showing up in the blood of fish oil users to "an alarming degree", far exceeding safe levels. Every brand tested contained the chemical, but a couple had lower levels than the others.....

Helen of FL 1:18PM March 10, 2010

@Mndy Ripi,
You should definitely talk to your oncologist, and not take advice from the Internet, but the article says "The long-term, low-dose aspirin program was initiated a year or more after the cancer diagnosis". The study covered 30 years, and recurrence was sometimes 10 or 20 years after diagnosis. I cannot advise you to take or take aspirin but you are still in the time frame where women were getting benefit from this therapy.
Good luck to you.

david of CA 6:16PM March 07, 2010