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Aspirin's Effect on Colon Cancer Detailed
by Richard Knox

All Things Considered August 23, 2005 · A new study shows that regular use
of aspirin and painkillers such as ibuprofen is highly effective at
preventing colon cancer in women. Even so, experts say people shouldn't take
painkillers to prevent cancer, as only high doses proved effective.

It's been known for a while that aspirin and NSAIDs like ibuprofen can
reduce the risk of a reoccurrence of polyps or colorectal cancer. Now
evidence shows that these drugs and aspirin protect people who have never
had any signs of the disease.

However, the benefit is related to the dose. Less aspirin had less effect
and the biggest benefit -- a whopping 53 percent lower relative risk for
colorectal cancer -- came from taking 14 aspirin per week for longer than 10
years. But the downside is that the drugs can cause gastrointestinal
bleeding. Experts say clinicians will now have to identify who should take
the risk in order to get the protection.

The results of the study conducted by Harvard researchers at Massachusetts
General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston are being
published in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association.

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