A study conducted in Denmark has revealed that taking one or two baby aspirins a day for at least five years can lower risk of colorectal cancer.
Earlier studies had suggested that aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen may help protect against colorectal cancer but how much should be taken for how long wasn’t clear.
Researchers insisted that taking low-dose aspirin continuously for at least five years appeared to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by 27% while using nonaspirin NSAIDs for at least five years appeared to reduce it by 30%.
Unless low-dose aspirin is taken continuously, there is little protection against colorectal cancer,” Dr. Soren Friis from the Danish Cancer Society Research Center in Copenhagen told Reuters Health.
The authors of the study warned that Long-term use of aspirin can cause gastrointestinal bleeding, for example, so the potential reduction in colon cancer risk needs to be balanced against potential side effects.
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