Aspirin almost doubles the survival chances of many cancer sufferers, a study reveals today.

It found that 75 per cent of patients taking a daily dose were still alive five years after being diagnosed with bowel, stomach, pancreatic and throat cancer.

But the survival rate for those not on aspirin was just 42 per cent. Experts say the drug is a 'magic bullet' that should now be prescribed as soon as cancer is diagnosed.

Experts say aspirin is a 'magic bullet' that should now be prescribed as soon as cancer is diagnosed

The findings back up numerous studies showing aspirin helps keep prostate, breast and lung cancer sufferers alive.

Costing barely 2p a day, it is thought to work by reducing the number of blood clots that tumours can hide in.

Martine Frouws, who led the Dutch research involving 14,000 adults, said: 'Given that aspirin is a cheap, unbranded drug with relatively few side-effects, this will have a great impact on healthcare systems as well as patients.'

She pointed out that it would be much less expensive than the personalised treatments now being advocated by medical researchers.

Patients in the study were generally taking 80-100mg pills which were prescribed to prevent heart attacks. Forty-three per cent had cancer of the colon, 25 per cent of the rectum and 10 per cent of the oesophagus. The remainder had cancers of the stomach, pancreas and bile duct.

The research by the Leiden University Medical Centre will be presented at the European Cancer Congress in Vienna today. Professor Nadir Arber, who is the congress's spokesman, said: 'Aspirin may serve as the magic bullet because it can target and prevent ischaemic heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer's disease, the three major health catastrophes in the third millennium.'

But Dr Áine McCarthy, of Cancer Research UK, warned of the dangers. She said: 'Even though aspirin is widely available, it can have serious side effects like internal bleeding, so cancer patients shouldn't take it without talking to their doctor first.'

Costing barely 2p a day, it is thought to work by reducing the number of blood clots that tumours can hide in

Last week American researchers announced they were recruiting 3,000 women to test whether aspirin stops breast cancer returning. The team from Boston believe the pill could increase survival chances by up to 50 per cent. A highly effective painkiller, aspirin works by reducing levels of prostaglandins, which cause discomfort, fever and swelling.

The drug is also prescribed by doctors to prevent heart attacks and stops particles called platelets in the blood clumping together to form clots. A number of larger studies are taking place around the world testing the benefits of aspirin on cancer.

Dr Frouws said until the results came back it would not be safe for patients to take aspirin to treat or prevent the disease.

The congress will also be told that a two-in-one 'wonder drug' has produced remarkable results in patients with the most deadly type of skin cancer.