Aspirin is a widely available over-the-counter medication that shows substantial effects at promoting survival and reducing risk of many types of cancer, plus reducing inflammation.
Aspirin at a glance
Aspirin is widely available as an over-the-counter medication used to reduce inflammation and related pain. General use became widespread before its safety was fully assessed. Use of aspirin presents more risks than many people are aware of.
Good to strong evidence links regular aspirin use to better survival with several types of cancer and reduced risk of even more cancer types. However, as of 2022 the US Preventive Services Task Force no longer recommends that physicians offer or provide low-dose aspirin to prevent colorectal cancer for some patients.
Use for reducing risk of cancer is considered an off-label use of aspirin—using an FDA-approved drug for a purpose other than its approved use. However, the task force also weighs the risks of aspirin use in its recommendations and does not recommend use by everyone.
CancerChoices ratings for aspirin
We rate aspirin on seven attributes, with 0 the lowest rating and 5 the highest. We rate the strength of the evidence supporting the use of aspirin for a medical benefit, such as improving treatment outcomes or managing side effects.
The strongest evidence summaries are presented here; full details are in How can aspirin help you? What the research says ›
See how we evaluate and rate complementary therapies ›