A pill taken for granted by many sits in handbags, bathroom cabinets, and desk drawers around the world.
It is used for headaches, sore muscles, and everyday aches, rarely prompting a second thought.
But growing scientific interest suggests that ibuprofen may be doing more inside the body than simply easing pain, raising new questions about its wider biological effects.
A well-known medicine
Ibuprofen is part of a group of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs.
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These drugs reduce inflammation by blocking enzymes involved in pain and swelling. Inflammation itself has long been linked to cancer development, which is why researchers have been exploring whether NSAIDs might influence cancer risk.
As far back as the 1980s, studies connected some NSAIDs with lower rates of bowel cancer. Since then, attention has turned to widely used medications like ibuprofen, which affect similar biological pathways.
Emerging evidence
A large study published in 2025 examined the health data of more than 42,000 women over a 12-year period.
It found that those who regularly used ibuprofen had a lower risk of developing endometrial cancer, particularly among women with cardiovascular disease.
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Other research has suggested possible links between ibuprofen use and reduced risk or recurrence of cancers such as bowel, breast, lung, and prostate cancer.
Scientists believe this may be related to reduced inflammatory signalling and changes in how cancer-related genes function.
Why caution remains
The findings are not consistent across all studies. Some research indicates that using NSAIDs after a cancer diagnosis may be associated with worse outcomes for certain patients.
Long-term or frequent use of ibuprofen is also known to increase the risk of stomach bleeding, kidney damage, and cardiovascular problems.
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For these reasons, experts do not recommend ibuprofen as a cancer-prevention measure. Instead, they continue to emphasise established approaches:
- maintaining a healthy weight through diet and physical activity
While the research is ongoing, lifestyle choices remain the most reliable tools for reducing cancer risk.
Sources: The Conversation and ScienceAlert
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