Aspirin, also known as acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), is derived from willow bark. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, supposedly had his patients chew on bark from the willow tree to help bring a fever down.

Today, we typically associate aspirin with its cardiovascular benefits. However, many people don’t know that it is also an anti-cancer drug.

Aspirin and Cancer Prevention

Research has shown us that those who take aspirin have a lower incidence of cancer compared to those who do not. For example, those who take a daily aspirin have a 24% reduction in risk of developing colorectal cancer according to a study (note: this benefit was apparent after taking aspirin for at least 5 years).

Aspirin and Cancer Treatment

It turns out that aspirin isn’t just for cancer prevention. A recent study evaluated all existing evidence for low dose aspirin (81 mg) in the treatment of cancer, and concluded that it could increase survival by up to 20% and significantly reduce metastases. Other studies have supported this finding.

The decision regarding whether to add aspirin to the protocol is one that should not be taken lightly, as it is a blood thinner which can interact with other medications. Nonetheless, for most patients, aspirin is extremely well-tolerated and is an excellent candidate for inclusion in an anti-cancer protocol.