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Journalism of Courage
Taking a low dose of aspirin daily may cut down the risk of developing colon cancer,says a new study published in ‘The Lancet’ journal.
Researchers in Europe have carried out the study and found that taking aspirin,in low doses,everyday could reduce cases of colon cancer (known as colorectal or bowel cancer) by a quarter and cut death rate from the disease by over a third.
Colorectal cancer includes cancerous growths in the colon,rectum and appendix. Over 655,000 colon cancer deaths are reported globally every year.
“Anyone with any risk factors such as a family history (of colon cancer) or a previous polyp should definitely take aspirin,” Prof Peter Rothwell of University of Oxford,who led the study,said.
In fact,the researchers have based their findings on the 20-year results of four trials,involving over 14,000 people,which were originally done to research aspirin’s use in preventing strokes and heart problems.
The study found people taking low doses of aspirin pills everyday for about six years reduced their colon cancer risk by 24 per cent and that deaths from the disease dropped by 35 per cent as compared to those who took a dummy pill.
In the trials,the researchers used European baby aspirin of 75 mg and regular aspirin,300 mg.
The researchers followed the subjects for 20 years and found who got cancer by checking cancer registries and death certificates in Britain and Sweden,where the trials were conducted.
Of the 8,282 people taking a low dose of aspirin,nearly 119 died due to colorectal cancer. Among the 5,751 who took a dummy pill or nothing,some 121 died of the disease,the findings revealed.
“There is a small benefit for vascular disease and now we know a big benefit for this cancer. In the future,I am sure it will be shown that aspirin helps prevent other cancers too,” Prof Rothwell said.
