Breast cancer survivors who made aspirin a regular habit were 71 percent less likely to have a deadly recurrence of their breast cancer compared to those who were taking little or no aspirin.

No Hype - Big news

Without much fanfare, the Nurses' Health Study was published a few days ago. It is big news. A drug has been tested and found to be very effective for controlling the spread of breast cancer. If this drug was a new wonder drug, there would be a lot of publicity touting this study. But this drug is the as old and as generic as they come - aspirin. Taking a single aspirin tablet--a baby aspirin or one adult pill--every other day can be lifesaving for breast cancer survivors.

Three Decades of Data

The study followed 4,164 breast cancer survivors over a period from 1976 to 2006, assessing in detail their use of aspirin. The long-term, low-dose aspirin program was initiated a year or more after the cancer diagnosis as an add-on to treatment, not as a substitute for it, to control the spread of tumor cells silently left behind. For some women, this post-treatment phase is one in which the cancer has gone underground and not entirely disappeared. It can lead to unexpected recurrence with the cancer spreading sometimes 10 to 20 years after diagnosis When cancer spreads it kills. Aspirin seems to interfere with that process. Those patients who made aspirin a regular habit, consuming low doses two to five times a week, were 71 percent less likely to have a deadly recurrence of their breast cancer compared to those who were taking little or no aspirin.

Other Anti-Inflammatory Drugs With Similar Results

A similar trend was found with regular use of other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but the numbers of users over the study time were insufficient for statistical certainty. The findings are nonetheless provocative, reinforcing the notion that the beneficial effects of aspirin on cancer survival may rest with its anti-inflammatory effects. We do know that deadly cancers hijack the inflammatory system to spread and invade distant organs, but we understand woefully little about the process for any given cancer and how to treat it. Figuring out the underlying secrets of this aspirin effect will open up neglected fields of cancer study: why and how cancers ultimately claim lives.

But what does this mean for breast cancer survivors?

Aspirin has proved itself as a safe, effective, and inexpensive preventive that cuts the risk for colon and prostate cancer and for years has served as a way to prevent heart disease and stroke. Here the Nurses' Health Study shows, for the first time, that breast cancer survivors can substantially lower their risk of a recurrent, deadly tangle with this cancer in the future.

The boy in the picture is Quinn, an 18 month-old boy with autism. He is shown obsessively stacking cans. While repetitive behavior like this is a common symptom of autism, there are other signs of the disease that appear earlier.

The Earliest Signs of Autism

According are recent article in the journal of the American Academy of Family Physician (AAFP) titled, Primary Care for Children With Autism, the earliest signs of autism in children is the delayed attainment of social skill milestones. Here are some of the diagnostic criteria offered by the AAFP for physicians.

• a. Marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate social interaction
• b. Failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
• c. A lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people (e.g., by a lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest)
• d. Lack of social or emotional reciprocity

Language impairment is a common, but less specific, sign of autism. Repetitive behaviors and restricted interests may not be noted until after social skill and communication impairments are exhibited. Physicians should perform developmental surveillance at all well-child visits, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends administering an autism-specific screening tool at the 18- and 24-month visits.

The goals of long-term management are to maximize functional independence and community engagement, minimize maladaptive behaviors, and provide family and caregiver support. Physicians play an important role in coordinating care through an interdisciplinary team; referring families for specialized services; and treating children's associated conditions, including sleep disturbances, gastrointestinal problems, anxiety, and hyperactivity. Autism is a lifelong condition, but early recognition, diagnosis, and treatment can improve the prognosis, whereas associated medical conditions, psychiatric conditions, and intellectual disability can worsen the prognosis.