WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS: Aspirin May Reduce Your Risks Of Skin Cancer

WELLNESS WEDNESDAYS: Aspirin May Reduce Your Risks Of Skin Cancer

New research from AArhus University Hospital in Denmark suggests that aspirin and other non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs, called NSAIDs, may help reduce the risk associated with the various kinds of skin cancer. That research, published in the journal CANCER, was performed by doctors who reviewed the health information of more than 200,000 people. The study reviewed the medications as well as skin cancer diagnoses of those people from various age groups.

The study revealed that those who had at least two prescriptions for NSAIDS had a slightly more than fifteen percent decrease in their skin cancer risk, especially for squamous cell carcinoma. There was a slightly less significant decrease in the risk for malignant melanoma which is the deadly version of skin cancer and has been noted to be on the rise among certain groups in the United States. The people who took these drugs were protected the most when they had been on them for several years. However, there was no reduction in the risk for another skin cancer type, basal cell carcinoma in general. A very slight decrease was noted, but only in those parts that were not commonly exposed to excessive sun

Aspirin May Reduce Your Risks Of Skin Cancer

The aspirin and other NSAIDS may give this protection because of their anti-inflammatory action. Another study showed that aspirin, twice a week might decrease the risk of lung cancer but that study only focused on women and may be repeated to see if there is any benefit of aspirin therapy on lung cancer in men. Yet another study, published in the British Journal of Cancer, revealed that aspirin could potentially extend the life of people who had been diagnosed with colon cancer.

More than two million people are diagnosed with some form of skin cancer every year according to information from the Skin Cancer Foundation. Unfortunately, other studies have indicated that the biggest rise has been in deadly melanoma especially among women. At one time, melanoma was most likely to hit young men but, in recent years the trend has been toward this diagnosis in women. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the continued use of tanning beds has increased the numbers of these cases. Once considered to be "safe" , the IARC raised their risk designation for tanning beds to "carcinogenic for humans"

But, aspirin and similar drugs are not risk free, according to other research and should only be taken as directed by a doctor.