It has been known that taking a small dose of aspirin every day helps prevent colon cancer. But recent research shows that people who benefit the most are those with a higher risk of getting the disease due to their lifestyle.
The study was led by Dr. Daniel Sikavi, a gastroenterologist at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston. The results indicate that aspirin can greatly lower the high risk of colorectal cancer in people with multiple risk factors.
Aspirin is believed to prevent colon cancer by reducing the production of certain proteins called prostaglandins, which can help tumors grow. But Dr. Andrew Chan, co-senior author of the study, said there might be other ways aspirin helps prevent the disease.
However, the story of using daily aspirin to prevent colon cancer has been complicated. Initially, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended taking a low dose (81 mg) of aspirin daily to prevent both heart disease and colon cancer. But in 2016, this advice was taken back because the risk of bleeding from long-term aspirin use was considered too high.
The question remains: Can daily aspirin benefit some people more than others?
To find out, Dr. Sikavi’s team studied data from almost 108,000 participants from two major health studies. The average age of participants was just over 49 years old. The researchers compared colon cancer rates between those who regularly took aspirin and those who did not.
Regular aspirin use was defined as taking two or more standard-dose (325 mg) tablets per week or a daily low-dose aspirin. The results showed that over 10 years, nearly 2% of regular aspirin users developed colon cancer, compared to almost 3% of non-users.
Even bigger differences were seen among participants with unhealthy lifestyles. Among those with the most unhealthy risk factors, 2.12% of regular aspirin users developed colon cancer, compared to 3.4% of those who did not take aspirin. No such difference was seen in people with the healthiest lifestyles, where the incidence was 1.5% for aspirin users and 1.6% for non-users.
In simple terms, in the least healthy group, treating 78 people with daily aspirin would prevent one case of colon cancer. In the healthiest group, it would take treating 909 people.
The researchers did not track the rate of aspirin’s main side effect, bleeding. The findings were published in the journal JAMA Oncology.
What does this mean for Americans concerned about colon cancer? Dr. Long Nguyen, co-senior author of the study, suggests that healthcare providers might consider recommending aspirin more strongly to patients with less healthy lifestyles. For those choosing to take aspirin regularly, the best evidence supports daily low-dose (81 mg) aspirin for prevention, rather than weekly doses of 325 mg.
Explaining Colon Cancer:
Colon cancer starts in the colon or rectum. It happens when cells in these areas grow uncontrollably. Causes include genetic factors, lifestyle choices like diet and smoking, and certain medical conditions. Symptoms include changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, abdominal pain, and unexplained weight loss.
Treatment often involves surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Aspirin can help prevent colon cancer by reducing inflammation. Other complementary treatments include a healthy diet, regular exercise, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol.
Key Insights:
- Daily low-dose aspirin helps prevent colon cancer, especially in those with high-risk lifestyles.
- Aspirin works by reducing proteins that can cause tumors and possibly through other mechanisms.
- The advice on aspirin use for colon cancer prevention has changed over time due to bleeding risks.
- The study shows that aspirin is more beneficial for people with unhealthy lifestyles.
Source: The findings were published in the journal JAMA Oncology.