Daily Dose of Aspirin May Halve Cancer Risk

Previously, studies have reported a reduced incidence of certain cancers in people who are on a regular aspirin regimen. John Burn, from Newcastle University (United Kingdom), and colleagues have discovered that taking regular aspirin halves the risk of developing hereditary cancers – cancers that develop as a result of a gene fault inherited from a parent.  The decade-long study, which involved scientists and clinicians from 43 centers in 16 countries and followed nearly 1,000 patients, in some cases for over 10 years, focused on people with Lynch syndrome – an inherited genetic disorder that causes cancer by affecting genes responsible for detecting and repairing damage in the DNA. Around 50% of those with Lynch syndrome develop cancer, mainly in the bowel and womb. The study looked at all cancers related to the syndrome, and found that almost 30% of the patients not taking aspirin had developed a cancer, as compared to around 15% of those taking the aspirin.  As well, with 1,000 people were diagnosed with bowel cancer in Northern Ireland last year -- 400 of whom died from the disease, the team found that 10% of bowel cancer cases are hereditary and by taking aspirin regularly the number of those dying from the hereditary form of the disease could be halved.   The researchers write that: “600 mg aspirin per day for a mean of 25 months substantially reduced cancer incidence …in carriers of hereditary colorectal cancer”; but they are careful to warn that people must first consult a physician prior to embarking on any regimen of aspirin therapy.