Aspirin can help prevent colon cancer, but many at risk

People with colon polyps spotted during screening are at higher risk for colon cancer. But while low-dose aspirin could lower the odds for the disease, too few patients adopt the regimen, new research shows.
Advanced colon polyps are a major risk factor for colon cancer, the third most common cause of cancer death in the United States.
The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends health care providers prescribe low-dose aspirin to all patients with advanced polyps unless there are specific medical reasons not to. Aspirin reduces colon cancer risk by 40 per cent and helps prevent return of advanced polyps, its guidelines say.
To assess low-dose aspirin use, Florida Atlantic University researchers analysed interviews with 84 patients who had advanced colon or rectal polyps. The interviews were done between 2013 and 2017.
Only 43 per cent of the patients said they took aspirin.
"These data indicate underutilization of aspirin to prevent colorectal cancer as well as recurrent polyps in these high-risk patients," said senior author Dr. Charles Hennekens. He is a professor and senior academic advisor in FAU's Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine in Boca Raton.  Researchers said the findings highlight major challenges that need to be addressed through lifestyle changes, drug therapies such as low-dose aspirin and screening. Lifestyle changes that have been shown to reduce colon cancer risk include getting regular exercise and avoiding and treating excess weight.  "We believe that these efforts should achieve the most good for the most patients," Hennekens said in a university news release.
Study co-author Dr. Lawrence Fiedler is a gastroenterologist and affiliate associate professor. He noted that more than 90 per cent of patients diagnosed with colon cancer are 50 years of age or older.
"The major risk factors are similar to those for heart attacks and stroke and include overweight, obesity as well as physical inactivity, a diet low in fiber and high in fat, as well as type 2 diabetes," Fiedler said.
Many people take an aspirin a day based on a recommendation from their family physician or heart doctor. Some people take aspirin to prevent heart disease, heart attack, or a stroke. People who already have had a heart attack, have experienced certain kinds of strokes, or have other diagnosed heart disease take aspirin to help keep them from having another heart attack or stroke.  
Aspirin works by keeping your blood cells from clumping together. These clumps or “clots” can block blood vessels in the heart and the brain. When these vessels are blocked, nutrients and oxygen cannot reach parts of the heart or brain. The lack of blood to areas of the heart is the main cause of heart attack. The lack of blood to areas of the brain is one cause of a stroke.
Aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding in the stomach, small intestine, and brain. Normally, there is a layer that protects the insides of the stomach and intestine from the acid in your stomach. If aspirin is taken at high doses and for a long time, it can slowly damage this layer.
This damage can lead to bleeding. Using aspirin to prevent blood clots can also affect the natural healing of damaged blood vessels and increase the risk of bleeding in the brain.
                                                                                  HealthDay

 

 

Aspirin can help prevent colon cancer, but many at risk

People with colon polyps spotted during screening are at higher risk for colon cancer. But while low-dose aspirin could lower the odds for the disease, too few patients adopt the regimen, new research shows. Advanced colon polyps are a major risk factor for colon cancer, the third most common cause of cancer death in the United States. The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends health care providers prescribe low-dose aspirin to all patients with advanced polyps unless there are specific medical reasons not to. Aspirin reduces colon cancer risk by 40 per cent and helps prevent return of advanced polyps, its guidelines say. To assess low-dose aspirin use, Florida Atlantic University researchers analysed interviews with 84 patients who had advanced colon or rectal polyps. The interviews were done between 2013 and 2017. Only 43 per cent of the patients said they took aspirin. These data indicate underutilization of aspirin to prevent colorectal cancer as well as recurrent polyps in these high-risk patients, said senior author Dr. Charles Hennekens. He is a professor and senior academic advisor in FAUs Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine in Boca Raton. Researchers said the findings highlight major challenges that need to be addressed through lifestyle changes, drug therapies such as low-dose aspirin and screening. Lifestyle changes that have been shown to reduce colon cancer risk include getting regular exercise and avoiding and treating excess weight. We believe that these efforts should achieve the most good for the most patients, Hennekens said in a university news release. Study co-author Dr. Lawrence Fiedler is a gastroenterologist and affiliate associate professor. He noted that more than 90 per cent of patients diagnosed with colon cancer are 50 years of age or older. The major risk factors are similar to those for heart attacks and stroke and include overweight, obesity as well as physical inactivity, a diet low in fiber and high in fat, as well as type 2 diabetes, Fiedler said. Many people take an aspirin a day based on a recommendation from their family physician or heart doctor. Some people take aspirin to prevent heart disease, heart attack, or a stroke. People who already have had a heart attack, have experienced certain kinds of strokes, or have other diagnosed heart disease take aspirin to help keep them from having another heart attack or stroke. Aspirin works by keeping your blood cells from clumping together. These clumps or clots can block blood vessels in the heart and the brain. When these vessels are blocked, nutrients and oxygen cannot reach parts of the heart or brain. The lack of blood to areas of the heart is the main cause of heart attack. The lack of blood to areas of the brain is one cause of a stroke. Aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding in the stomach, small intestine, and brain. Normally, there is a layer that protects the insides of the stomach and intestine from the acid in your stomach. If aspirin is taken at high doses and for a long time, it can slowly damage this layer. This damage can lead to bleeding. Using aspirin to prevent blood clots can also affect the natural healing of damaged blood vessels and increase the risk of bleeding in the brain. HealthDay