Daily aspirin 'cuts cancer death rates'

A small daily dose of aspirin can reduce the risk of dying from a range of common cancers, new research shows.

Studies at Oxford University and other centres found aspirin cut overall cancer deaths by at least a fifth.

Lead author Professor Peter Rothwell, from the University of Oxford, said it appears to reduce the growth of mutated cells, or prompt the cells to self-destruct.

Prof Rothwell said the risk of side-effects from taking aspirin is often out-weighed by the benefits to health.

The study in the Lancet covered some 25,000 patients, mostly from the UK.