Colorectal cancer risk in those predisposed to the disease could cut the risk of contracting the disease by over half with a daily aspirin, according to a new study.
The study, which took place in Great Britain, followed 861 patients with a genetic condition called Lynch Syndrome that predisposed them to the disease and accounts for about 3 to 5 percent of colon cancer cases. According to a report from CBS, researchers wanted to explore the theory that aspirin could prevent colon cancer to that group.
The subjects were assigned to take the equivalent of two regular-strength aspirin tablets a day, or a placebo version of the pill. Researchers tracked the subjects anywhere from two to 11 years and found that those who took the aspirin regularly for at least two years had a decreased risk of cancer by about 60%.
"This is good news for a very specific population," Asad Umar, a National Cancer Institute cancer prevention expert told CBS.
Still, health officials warned against anyone without Lynch Syndrome relying on aspirin to lower the risk of colorectal cancer. Patients taking aspirin regularly report symptoms such as stomach ulcers, bleeding or high toxicity problems. If someone is at a high risk of colorectal cancer because of a genetic predisposition, however, health professionals recommend speaking to your physician about an aspirin regimen.
