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| Aspirin trial to examine if it can stop cancer returning | Aspirin trial to examine if it can stop cancer returning |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The world's largest clinical trial to examine whether aspirin can prevent cancer returning has begun in the UK. | |
| About 11,000 people who have had early bowel, breast, prostate, stomach and oesophageal cancer will be involved. | About 11,000 people who have had early bowel, breast, prostate, stomach and oesophageal cancer will be involved. |
| Uncertainty about the drug's possible anti-cancer qualities has led to fierce medical debate in recent years. | Uncertainty about the drug's possible anti-cancer qualities has led to fierce medical debate in recent years. |
| If it is proven to work, scientists say it would be "game-changing", by providing a cheap and effective way to help more patients survive. | If it is proven to work, scientists say it would be "game-changing", by providing a cheap and effective way to help more patients survive. |
| During the study, funded by the charity Cancer Research UK and the NIHR - the research arm of the NHS - patients will take a tablet every day for five years. | During the study, funded by the charity Cancer Research UK and the NIHR - the research arm of the NHS - patients will take a tablet every day for five years. |
| 'Toughest experiences' | 'Toughest experiences' |
| Researchers will compare groups of patients taking different doses of aspirin with people taking dummy (placebo) pills and check for any recurrences of cancer. | Researchers will compare groups of patients taking different doses of aspirin with people taking dummy (placebo) pills and check for any recurrences of cancer. |
| Dr Fiona Reddington from Cancer Research UK said: "The trial is especially exciting as cancers that recur are often harder to treat so finding a cheap and effective way to prevent this is potentially game-changing for patients." | Dr Fiona Reddington from Cancer Research UK said: "The trial is especially exciting as cancers that recur are often harder to treat so finding a cheap and effective way to prevent this is potentially game-changing for patients." |
| The trial will run across 100 UK centres, involving patients who are having or have had treatment for early cancer, and will last up to 12 years. | The trial will run across 100 UK centres, involving patients who are having or have had treatment for early cancer, and will last up to 12 years. |
| But scientists warn that aspirin is not suitable for everyone and should not be used without medical advice. | But scientists warn that aspirin is not suitable for everyone and should not be used without medical advice. |
| Taking the drug every day comes with a serious health warning as it can cause side effects such as ulcers and bleeding from the stomach, or even the brain. | Taking the drug every day comes with a serious health warning as it can cause side effects such as ulcers and bleeding from the stomach, or even the brain. |
| Clear proof sought | Clear proof sought |
| Prof Ruth Langley, lead investigator on the trial, said: "There's been some interesting research suggesting that aspirin could delay or stop early stage cancers coming back but there's been no randomised trial to give clear proof. | Prof Ruth Langley, lead investigator on the trial, said: "There's been some interesting research suggesting that aspirin could delay or stop early stage cancers coming back but there's been no randomised trial to give clear proof. |
| "The trial aims to answer this question once and for all. | "The trial aims to answer this question once and for all. |
| "If we find that aspirin does stop these cancers returning, it could change future treatment - providing a cheap and simple way to help stop cancer coming back and helping more people survive." | "If we find that aspirin does stop these cancers returning, it could change future treatment - providing a cheap and simple way to help stop cancer coming back and helping more people survive." |
| Alex King, 51, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2009 and has been given the all-clear, said: "Having cancer was one of the toughest experiences of my life. | Alex King, 51, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2009 and has been given the all-clear, said: "Having cancer was one of the toughest experiences of my life. |
| "Any opportunity to reduce the chance of cancer coming back is incredibly important so patients can rest more easily." | "Any opportunity to reduce the chance of cancer coming back is incredibly important so patients can rest more easily." |
| Many people are already prescribed daily, low-dose aspirin as a heart drug. | Many people are already prescribed daily, low-dose aspirin as a heart drug. |