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Prostate Cancer Alternative Therapies -
Aspirin and Anticoagulant Drugs Enhance Prostate Cancer Radiation Treatment

• Anticoagulant (anti-clotting) drugs, including aspirin, decrease the risk that prostate cancer will recur in men undergoing radiation treatment. 

 
Researchers at the University of Chicago found that taking an anticoagulant lowers the risk of prostate cancer recurrence by almost half.

The anti-coagulants studied included Coumadin, Plavix and aspirin. Research suggests that the drugs may cause molecular changes that make cancer cells more sensitive to radiation.

The study involved 682 men with prostate cancer undergoing radiation treatments at the University of Chicago from 1988 to 2005. Study groups included 196 taking aspirin, 58 taking Coumadin, and 24 taking Plavix. The other men weren’t taking any anti-coagulant medications.

After four years researchers found taking an anti-clotting medication was associated with a 46% lower risk of recurrence.

Prostate cancer recurred in 9% of the men taking an anti-clotting medication. Prostate cancer recurred in 22% of the men who weren’t taking the anti-clotting drugs.

Men with high-risk aggressive prostate cancers that had not yet metastasized at the time of radiation treatment gained the best benefit. In these high-risk men, prostate cancer recurred in 18% of men on anti-clotting drugs and 42% of men taking the drugs.

Distant prostate cancer metastasis was 1% in the anti-coagulant group and 5% in the men not taking the drugs.

Anticoagulant drugs benefited men whether they received traditional radioactive seeds or external beam radiation. The study did not include men who received newer forms of radiation therapy, such and proton therapy. Researchers did not analyze the drugs separately.

Reference Source: Cancer. 2010 Feb 8. The use of anticoagulants improves biochemical control of localized prostate cancer treated with radiotherapy. Choe KS, Correa D, et al.

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Natural Cancer Treatment Pearl

Now, I know anti-coagulant medications are not natural prostate cancer treatments. But, given the apparent effectiveness of aspirin, I'd have to consider it.

Enteric aspirin can be used by most men without stomach and intestinal bleeding problems. Consult with your doctor for appropriateness, dosage and monitoring.

Click here to learn more about Alternative Prostate Cancer Treatments.

Return from Prostate Cancer Alternative Therapies - Aspirin and Anticoagulant Drugs Enhance Prostate Cancer Radiation Treatment to 2010 Natural Cancer News

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