Special Report: Aspirin as Prevention Pill?

Betsy Gonnerman of Sudbury will never forget the day she told her son she'd been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Betsy Gonnerman, Breast cancer survivor
"His first response was, 'Are you going to die?’ It was pretty startling."

Her story is far too common. In the U.S, one in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime.

Researchers already know a good diet and regular exercise can help decrease that risk... but now new studies show perhaps this little white pill may help as well.

Susan Troyan, Beth Israel Deaconess
"There seems to be an association with a lower risk of breast cancer in women who take regular aspirin."

That's right, not some complicated, expensive drug... but plain old aspirin. Several studies have shown a link between use of the over-the-counter drug... and lower rates of breast cancer.

Dr. Alfred Neugut, Ph.D., Columbia University
"Regular use of aspirin reduced the risk of breast cancer in women by about 25 percent."

Why might aspirin work? Doctors aren't sure, though some studies suggest that it may decrease substances that produce estrogen.

Susan Troyan, Beth Israel Deaconess
"If you decrease something that promotes estrogen, you decrease estrogen. We've known for years that estrogen lowering can decrease breast cancer."

But unlike heart patients, who can reduce the risk of heart attacks with baby aspirin, these studies suggest the amount of aspirin needed to reduce breast cancer risk may be larger... and that can be problematic.

Susan Troyan, Beth Israel Deaconess
"Once you start talking about taking more or a higher dosage of aspirin on a daily basis on a longer period of time, you could be increasing your risk of ulcer disease."

Still, doctors say the studies are encouraging and perhaps may someday lead to new preventative medications.

Dr. Alfred Neugut, Ph.D., Columbia University
"Five, ten years from now we may find that the combined use of say an aspirin and anti-estrogen drug may have a combined effect in the 50-75 percent reduction of breast cancer."

But right now, experts say that it's too early to prescribe an aspirin a day to keep breast cancer away, and suggest women stick with good diet, exercise, and regular mammograms instead.