OTC pills ‘could beat breast cancer’

Particular forms of over-the-counter aspirin could help women reduce their risk of developing breast cancer and help in its treatment where the disease has already struck, a recent report has suggested.

A team of scientists at Guy’s and St Thomas Hospital reviewed 27 years worth of study evidence and concluded that the species of aspirin commonly termed NSAIDs could have an important role in tacking breast cancer.

The analysis has been published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice and it advocates the use of the pills, which are available at pharmacies around the country, to alleviate some of the symptoms cancer patients tend to suffer.

Dr Ian Fentiman, lead author of the study, said: “Our findings clearly indicate that these popular over-the counter drugs could, if used correctly, play an important role in preventing and treating breast cancer.”

However, Dr Fentiman made clear that further investigation should be carried out into the side-effects before women are encouraged to use non-prescription drugs on a regular basis.

A study carried out at the University of Columbia in 2004 into the effectiveness of aspirin in preventing and treating breast cancer reached many of the same conclusions as the one recently conducted in the UK.