Long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) shows promise in preventing mouth cancer in former and current smokers but may pose a heart risk, according to a Norwegian study in this week’s issue of The Lancet.The study of more than 900 active and former smokers concluded that use of NSAID painkillers like ibuprofen and naproxen -- but not aspirin -- reduced the risk of mouth cancer by half but also doubled users’ risk of death from heart disease. The study authors said their results show the need for careful risk-benefit analysis when long-term NSAID use is being considered.The study did not include data on use of the cox-2 inhibitor subclass of NSAIDs, which includes Vioxx, Celebrex and Bextra.The findings were first reported last spring at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.
