Aspirin May Reduce Risk Of Melanoma In Older Women.

aad.org, Dermatology Daily March 12, 2013

ABC World News (3/11, story 6, 1:40, Sawyer) reported, "Scientists say regular doses of aspirin may lower the risk of the deadliest type of skin cancer, melanoma in some women."

        On NBC Nightly News (3/11, story 6, 2:35, Williams) NBC Chief Medical Editor Dr. Nancy Snyderman said, "Using questionnaires this observational study followed 60,000 Caucasian women ages 50 to 79." Participants "were put in three groups. Those who took aspirin only. Those who took non-aspirin NSAIDS like ibuprofen or naproxen, and those who took neither."

        The Washington Post (3/12, Searing) reports that during an approximately "12-year span, 548 of the women developed melanoma."

        The Time (3/11) "Healthland" blog reports that "even after controlling for skin cancer risk factors such as tanning and low use of sunscreen, the women who reported taking aspirin at least twice a week showed a 21% lower risk of melanoma than the women who didn't take the pain killer." The researchers also found that "the longer they stayed on aspirin, the lower their risk; women who used aspirin regularly for one to four years for example, showed an 11% lower risk of melanoma compared to those who didn't take the pills for that time, while women who continued taking aspirin for five or more years enjoyed a 30% lower chance of developing melanoma."

        The NPR (3/12, Knox) "Shots" blog points out that "the data came from the 22-year-old, federally financed Women's Health Initiative. But this study merely observed whether women chose to take aspirin or not, and then correlated that with whether they got melanoma." This type "of 'observational' study doesn't prove anything."

        On its website, NBC News (3/12, Carroll) reports, "The new study, coupled with earlier evidence, makes a good case for aspirin's anti-cancer properties, experts said."

        On its website, CBS News (3/12) reports, "The study was published March 11 in the American Cancer Society's journal, Cancer." Meanwhile, "another study in a May 2012 issue of the journal Cancer found aspirin, ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduced a person's risk of developing the three major types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma." Also covering the story are the ABC News (3/12) website, AFP-Relaxnews (3/12), and HealthDay (3/12, Reinberg).