Taking low-dose aspirin daily while under cancer treatment may boost patient survival rates by up to 20 percent, a new study has found.

Aside from the positive effects on cancer mortality, the drug was also found to halt cancer from spreading, making it an interesting and potentially promising component in cancer management.

Review of existing scientific data shows that cancer deaths and spread significantly plummeted after patients took the drug, with an average follow-up duration of more than five years.

Eyes On Aspirin

"There is a growing body of evidence that taking aspirin is of significant benefit in reducing some cancers," says lead study author Peter Elwood from Cardiff University.

Despite the increasing association, the exact role of aspirin in cancer treatment stays unclear. This is why the team of researchers performed a systematic investigation based on best available data.

Reviewing Past Studies

The review consisted of five randomized studies and 42 observational investigations that looked into breast, prostate and colorectal cancers. After analysis, the team indeed found a 15-20 percent decrease in deaths and the spread of these types of cancer.

Aspirin was also found to reduce deaths and spread of other types of cancer in six studies, but the number of study participants was too low for the team to confidently declare an interpretation.

The Issue Of Intestinal Bleeding

Possible intestinal bleeding is one of the most well-recognized side effects of aspirin. With this, the team investigated the available literature on bleeding by writing to the authors and inquiring about additional information. They found that there were no grave or fatal bleeding noted in all of the studies.

Now, the team says that their work emphasizes the need to perform randomized testings to confirm if daily low-dose aspirin intake will be an effective addition to the overall management of cancer.

The study was published in the journal PLOS One on April 20.