Ovarian cancer: aspirin could improve the chances of survival for patients

Ovarian cancer can develop in a sneaky way for many months before a woman realizes it. In fact, its symptoms (gynecological or digestive disorders or a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen) are not very specific, which increases the risk of “missing” the disease. An element that plays on the care and vital prognosis of affected patients.

Regular intake of a low dose of aspirin

Australian researchers from the Queensland Institute of Medical Research have studied the impact of taking aspirin, classified as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) in patients affected by ovarian cancer. They therefore followed more than 900 women who had just been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Asked about the frequency of taking this treatment, the patients indicated the number of doses per week. The researchers found that women who said they took this type of drug at least four days a week during the 12 months following diagnosis lived longer on average than occasional users or those who did not take it.

More than two additional months of survival

According to the conclusions of this study, patients who regularly consume aspirin live an average of 2.5 months longer, during the five years following their diagnosis. “Our results suggest that frequent use of NSAIDs may improve survival for women with ovarian cancer, whether they start taking the drugs before or after diagnosis.“explains Dr. Azam Majidi, lead author of this study. “While this may not seem like much, it is important for ovarian cancer. The pathology is often diagnosed at an advanced stage when the prognosis is poor and treatment options are limited.” she adds, specifying however that the drug should not be taken without medical advice.