Perry2

Yes Aspirin is proven to reduce instance of heart attack and as well may reduce the incidence of colorectal, breast cancer, and brain cancer. There is also also a study that says it will slightly increase the incidence of the rare and nearly always fatal Pancreatic Cancer however your chances of dying from one of the other illnesses noted above are far more likely. There is an increased risk of GI bleeding which in not likely to put your life at risk but has to be considered.

Search aspirin and cancer rates on your browser to read some of the studies.

The group study which found the increase in Pancreatic cancer with taking Aspirin was not clearly explained however. They were an all female sample and were professionally nurses which gives some level of reliability to the sample. But there was clear evidence that diet and weight, related to the body's handling of insulin, was a measurable factor and since it is reasonable to assume a subgroup of overweight people on their feet all day might be relying on aspirin for knee and ankle pain, the study could still be measuring the higher risk sub group. Later studies seem to contradict these findings but there is no consensus.

The American Cancer Society has said their position is there is no link between increased incidence of Pancreatic cancer and ASA, but have also not come out in support of Aspirin as helping the other forms that studies show it seems to.

I personally would take it just for the cardiac benefits but the apparent Cancer fighting just makes it seem more atractive. GBM brain Cancer is as deadly as Pancreatic Cancer and there are fewer ways to reduce your risk of it. I lost my father in-law to GBM so I am sold. Your choice though, but make sure to check out the many excellent studies accessible from the web.