A new study that finds cancer patients who take daily aspirin may live longer is adding to the growing evidence in favor of this common medication as a powerful disease fighter.

This new study, out of the U.K., found that cancer patients who were on daily, low-dose aspirin therapy had a reduced death rate of up to 20 percent and that their tumors were less likely to spread.

Earlier this month, U.S. officials recommended daily aspirin (81 mg)  to help prevent colorectal cancer in addition to its traditional cardiovascular benefits.

In this latest study, a team from Cardiff University's School of Medicine reviewed previous research on patients with breast, colorectal and prostate cancer.  The study was done because of the growing evidence in favor of aspirin, says lead author Professor Peter Elwood, who published the first report in his country that aspirin cut heart attack risk more than 40 years ago.

The team looked at all of the available data including five randomized trials and 42 observational studies of colorectal, breast and prostate cancers. Some studies on other types of cancer were included, but there were not enough patients to form significant conclusions, he says.

Also, although bleeding is sometimes cited as a concern with daily aspirin use, the researchers found no significant or life-threatening instances of it occurred, Elwood added of the study, which appears in PLOS ONE.

According to Elwood, the study shows there a desperate need for more research on the potential role of aspirin in cancer treatment. In the meantime, he adds, “We’d urge patients diagnosed with cancer to speak to their doctor about our findings so they can make an informed decision as to whether or not they should take a low-dose aspirin as part of their cancer treatment.”