Aspirin, which is used as a pain reliever and to help prevent heart attacks, may now be used to prevent cancer. Two new studies that look at data dating back to the 1950's, and include over 100,000 patients, show a 35% decrease in the occurrence of colon cancer among those who took aspirin. The study also shows a 35-40% decrease in the chance that people already afflicted with cancer would have it spread while on aspirin.

Prostate cancer expert Dr. David Samadi adds that low-dose aspirin may also help to reduce certain types of prostate and lung cancer. While the study is observational, Samadi believes that it provides enough evidence that it would be worth placing patients who are believed to be at high risk for cancer on a low-dose aspirin regimen.