Two aspirins a day keeps cancer away: Studies

Aspirin. This is the drug that patients take to reduce fever, pain or even inflammation. This drug is so effective that it has been found to reduce the risk of death when given to patients who suffer heart attack shortly after an attack.

Two studies show that this drug is equally effective in cutting the risk of inherited colorectal cancer, also known as bowel or colon cancer. This effectiveness has been proven by cancer researchers at the universities of Newcastle and Leeds, UK, in the first set of study, and medical scientists from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland in the second study.

These two studies are part of an international cancer medical trial known as CAPP2, which has been undertaken in 16 countries. These studies were launched in 1999, and executed in different phases to allow for patient monitoring over a 20-year period. The findings of the studies were published in the journal The Lancet.

According to the findings, the risk of getting colorectal cancer shrinks by half where patients take two aspirins a day for an average of two-and-half years. “The benefits are clear for people who are at an advanced risk of getting cancer. Two aspirins a day for a couple of years gives protection that lasts for more than 10 years,” said Prof Sir John Burn, who led the first set of study.

In the second study, the researchers established that the amount of aspirin that was effective per day was 600mg. “This reduced the risk of colorectal cancer among the at-risk group of participants by half in comparison to the at-risk volunteers who were on placebo. The efficacy of taking the drug lasted for between 10 and 20 years,” said Prof Jukka-Pekka Mecklin from the University of Jyväskylä and Central Finland Hospital District, who led the second study. In the same study, tens of thousands of patient were given aspirin in placebo-controlled trials to prevent cardiovascular attacks.

However, the researchers were quick to point out that despite the effectiveness of aspirin in battling cancer, patients should not take the drug over the counter without professional prescription. “Before anyone begins taking aspirin on a regular basis, they should first consult their doctor. This is because aspirin can result in severe side effects such as stomach ulcers and bleeding,” said Prof Burn.

To cut on the risks involved with daily aspirin usage, the scientists have rolled out a fresh phase of international medical trials dubbed CAPP3 to examine the effectiveness of low dosages of 100mg and 300mg in combating colorectal cancer.

In Kenya, colorectal cancer is ranked among the top 10 cases of cancer. This type of cancer can either occur at the colon or the rectum.