Aspirin for Cancer Patients?

Can aspirin help someone with a serious form of cancer help them survive? That's the topic in this Ask the Doctor segment.

Dr. Stephen Scott from Baylor College of Medicine discussed a recent study on the effects of aspirin on cancer patients.

"It was a nice, large study where they followed people for about ten years on average, and they found that people with certain types of colon cancer actually helped them to live longer," said Scott.

When aspirin came on the market, it was considered a "miracle drug" for all your aches and pains, but there are some cons to it.

"In this study, if you have colon cancer, it could be a good addition for you, but it certainly shouldn't replace chemo therapy," said Dr. Scott. "It's important to talk to your doctor. Aspirin over a period of time presents risks to your stomach, irritation, it can cause bleeding."

Doctors say an enzyme produced by certain types of cancer can be contained by aspirin, limiting its effects on the human body.