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Written question asked by Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party) on Thursday, 21 April 2016, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 26 April 2016 (named day). It was answered by Jane Ellison (Conservative) on Tuesday, 26 April 2016 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Cancer: Aspirin

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with clinical bodies on research into the use of aspirin to reduce incidents of cancer.

Answer

Ministers have had no such discussions.

Achieving World-Class Cancer Outcomes A Strategy for England 2015-2020 includes a recommendation that NHS England should commission the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to develop updated guidelines for the use of drugs for the prevention of breast and colorectal cancers including the use of aspirin for individuals with hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer. Once these guidelines are published, clinical commissioning groups should ensure that general practitioners implement them. A National Cancer Transformation Board will oversee the implementation of the strategy, and an implementation plan will be published shortly.

The Strategy also noted that Cancer Research UK and the National Institute for Health Research will continue to monitor outcomes from trials under way in the United Kingdom and internationally regarding the role of aspirin in cancer prevention more generally. They will make evidence available to NHS England and NICE as results become clear.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
35050
Session
2015-16
Subjects
Cancer Research Aspirin
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk