No one is suggesting that men start taking aspirin for prostate health if they are not already taking aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for other reasons. However, Mayo Clinic researchers do say that men who are already taking a daily dose of aspirin might be enjoying a better level of prostate health. According to researchers, aspirin seems to prevent or delay an enlarged prostate that can lead to urinary difficulties such as frequent urination, trouble urinating, weak urine stream and an urgent need to urinate. While the researchers cannot state why NSAIDs benefit prostate health for benign prostatic hyperplasia, previous research has indicated aspirin provides certain prostate cancer prevention benefits. Many older adults already take aspirin, or other NSAIDs, for heart health and arthritis, and taking aspirin now appears to offer another added benefit in prostate health for men. Aspirin is not without its downside. Researchers do warn that taking aspirin can lead to stomach ulcers. As with any drug, one has to weigh the risk against the benefit.
1. Dalene,
I found this article informative regarding prevention, but there is another development concerning prevention of prostate cancer that is getting nearly zero attention, and I'm convinced the impact is far greater. I'm commenting because I hope you will write about it.
The paper is in the August issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. It is about freeing finasteride from concern over high-grade prostate cancer. The context is the 2003 results from the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial that demonstrated a 25% reduction in prostate cancer incidence, but a 1% apparent higher incidence of high-grade (higher Gleason) cancer for those who did develop the disease. Now, it looks very likely that was an artifact resulting from finasteride's ability to make PSA testing more effective, in simple terms. This should be major news, but the media is missing the boat. I've done an analysis if you would like to see it.
Jim JWaldenfels@aol.com http://www.mycancerplace.com/profile.php?id=147
Posted at 5:48AM on Aug 31st 2006 by Jim Waldenfels