Prostate specific
antigen (PSA) levels are lower in men who take aspirin, according to findings
presented at the American Association for Cancer Research’s Seventh Annual
Conference. Men who take aspirin have lower levels of PSA, especially men with
prostate cancer who take aspirin.
Aspirin,
PSA and Prostate Cancer
Prostate
specific antigen is one of the most commonly used markers for prostate cancer. Basically,
the higher the level of PSA in the blood, the more likely it is that cancer is
present in the prostate (though high PSA numbers can also indicate other
non-cancerous problems with the prostrate gland).
In
examining 1,277 men, researchers found that 37% took aspirin daily. In the aspirin
takers, the average PSA level was 9 percent lower than in the non-aspirin
takers (after considering age, race and other factors). The effect was grater
in men who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Researchers believe that
the aspirin has some effect on cancer growth.
Of course, the aspirin may be suppressing the PSA levels but not changing the growth of prostate cancer. In other words, the aspirin could be hindering the ability to detect prostate cancer. What is known is that taking aspirin reduces the PSA level, but whether that means less growth of cancer or a masking effect remains to be seen.
Must Read: Prostate Cancer and Life Expectancy
This article could have been just as easily titled
“Aspirin Harmful for Prostate PSA Levels”. If taking a chemical has no known benefits in reducing cancer risks but has only a known affect on the ability to detect a marker that might indicate an increased risk, then the word “harm” seems more applicable in the title. The title of the article may in fact do harm.
The title has a touch of “Madi$on Ave.”
However, the last paragraph helps provide a clear view of the study and undo the title’s “error”.