We Were Wrong About Aspirin (New Evidence)
Brad Stanfield
May 12, 2026
Episode description
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Timestamps:
00:00 Aspirin's Initial Success
01:59 Aspirin's Impact on Cancer
03:26 The Unexpected Twist: John McNeill's Observations
00:04:33 The ASPREE Trial
06:12 The Follow-up ASPREE Results
08:05 The Updated Analysis by the Cochrane Library
13:32 The Current State of Aspirin Use
Here are the links to the research papers referenced in the video:
Rothwell — Daily aspirin and long-term cancer death (Lancet, 2011)
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(10)62110-1/abstract
USPSTF 2016 — Aspirin for CVD and colorectal cancer prevention
https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/aspirin-to-prevent-cardiovascular-disease-and-cancer-april-2016
McNeil — ASPREE: aspirin and all-cause mortality (NEJM, 2018)
https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa1803955
Kune — Melbourne Colorectal Cancer Study (1988)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3390835/
Burn — CAPP2 aspirin in Lynch syndrome, 10-year follow-up (Lancet, 2020)
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30366-4/fulltext
Rothwell — Aspirin and cancer metastasis (Lancet, 2012)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22440947/
Rothwell — Aspirin short-term cancer incidence and mortality, 51 RCTs (Lancet, 2012)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22440946/
ASPREE recruitment — lessons from a 19,114-person GP-led trial
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6456041/
ASPREE — aspirin, cardiovascular events and bleeding (NEJM, 2018)
https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa1805819
Orchard — ASPREE follow-up: cancer incidence and mortality (JAMA Oncology, 2026)
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/article-abstract/2844193
Healio — Orchard interview on the ASPREE follow-up
https://www.healio.com/news/hematology-oncology/20260218/lowdose-aspirin-significantly-increases-cancer-mortality-risk-among-older-adults
Cai — Cochrane review: aspirin and NSAIDs for colorectal cancer prevention (2026)
https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD015266.pub2/full
USPSTF 2022 — Aspirin for CVD prevention (colorectal cancer withdrawn)
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2791399
University of Cambridge press release — how aspirin could prevent metastasis
https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/scientists-discover-how-aspirin-could-prevent-some-cancers-from-spreading
Yang — Aspirin prevents metastasis via platelet TXA2 and T cell immunity (Nature, 2025)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08626-7
McNeil — Aspirin and cancer incidence/mortality in older adults (JNCI, 2021)
https://academic.oup.com/jnci/article/113/3/258/5889955
Lynch syndrome — physician compliance and patient uptake with aspirin therapy (2026)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41661407/
Thumbnail by James Kelly
Video edited by Troy Young
Script by John Milliken
The links above are affiliate links, so I receive a small commission every time you use them to purchase a product. The content contained in this video, and its accompanying description, is not intended to replace viewers’ relationships with their own medical practitioner. Always speak with your doctor regarding the content of this channel, and especially before using any products, services, or devices discussed on this channel.
Mindsip insights from this episode:
Reconsider aspirin use to avoid suppressing beneficial inflammation
A leading theory suggests that by chronically suppressing inflammation, aspirin may prevent the body from properly identifying and isolating dangerous cancer cells.
Start high-dose aspirin at 45 to prevent cancer in Lynch syndrome
Aspirin does prevent cancer in people with Lynch syndrome, but it requires a high dose (600mg) and must be started at a younger age (around 45).
Utilize cancer's platelet escort to understand immune evasion
Cancer cells use blood platelets as a personal escort, releasing a chemical (Thromboxane A2) that tells the immune system to stand down.
Avoid daily aspirin to reduce cancer death risk
In a major trial of healthy older adults, the group taking daily aspirin had 15% more cancer deaths than the group taking a placebo.
Discontinue aspirin to eliminate increased cancer mortality risk
The increased cancer mortality risk from aspirin disappeared after participants stopped taking the drug, suggesting the effect was not lasting.
Address immunosenescence to enhance aspirin effectiveness in older adults
Aspirin may fail in older adults due to 'immunosenescence,' a state where their immune T-cells are too aged to respond even when aspirin tries to activate them.
Assess daily aspirin use for serious bleeding risk
Daily aspirin use comes with a 59% increased risk of serious bleeding, such as stomach bleeds that require hospitalization.
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