Researchers at the Queensland Institute for Medical Research have found that taking low doses of aspirin can improve women’s survival rates for ovarian cancer. The study is published in JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute .
The study involved more than 900 Australian women who had recently been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Patients who reported taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) at least four days a week for 12 months after diagnosis lived longer than women who took NSAIDs occasionally or did not take them. On average, their life expectancy was increased by 2.5 months.
Although this difference may seem small, it is quite significant for ovarian cancer. The disease is often diagnosed at a late stage when the prognosis is poor and treatment options are limited.
The scientists also found that frequent use of NSAIDs can improve the survival of women with ovarian cancer, whether they start taking medication before or after diagnosis. However, NSAIDs are not safe for everyone, so women should not start taking drugs without talking to their doctor. In this study, most of the women took low-dose aspirin.
