Aspirin may cut melanoma risk, study finds
A new study from Stanford University looks specifically at aspirin's role in reducing the risk of melanoma, a form of skin cancer that is on the rise.
The study found a significant association between frequent usage of the drug and this form of cancer; aspirin users were less likely to get melanoma than those who did not take aspirin.
This is not proof, however, that aspirin is directly responsible for lowering the risk.
Why study this?
According to CNN, Researchers believe inflammation plays a big role in cancer development, and aspirin is an anti-inflammatory drug. Previous studies support the idea that in certain kinds of cancers, aspirin may be preventative.
"Aspirin also seems to specifically promote tumor cell death in certain cells, and one [type] are melanoma cells," said the study's senior author Dr. Jean Tang, who is an assistant professor of dermatology at Stanford University School of Medicine.
Participants
Researchers examined data from the Women's Health Initiative, a large sample of women ages 50 to 79 who reported information about themselves for an average of 12 years. The new study looked at nearly 60,000 women in this group.
Only Caucasian women were studied because melanoma risk increases in people with less skin pigment, and 95% of cutaneous melanoma cases are found in Caucasians.
Study setup
The study authors divided women into categories depending on whether they said they were taking aspirin, another kind of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), or nothing.
A "user" of a drug was someone who took the medication at least twice weekly. Prescription records and bottle labels were checked to verify these drugs.
Women also reported their sun exposure, and researchers controlled for this in their analysis.
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