When it comes to preventing the third-leading cause of cancer death in the United States, doctors and researchers are always open to new possibilities. One treatment that is being evaluated more closely is an anti-inflammatory therapy with a COX-2 inhibitor.
It sounds expensive, doesn’t it? Don’t worry, though. You have it at home, but you know it by a different name: aspirin. Aspirin is one of the most common, economical over-the-counter medications. Praised for its well-roundedness in reducing inflammation, relieving pain and increasing circulatory function, aspirin is well-tolerated by most people if not taken in excess. Many Americans take an aspirin a day for heart health, so it is just an added bonus that aspirin can lead to better colon health.
Last year, a new study was conducted about aspirin and colon cancer. The study found that aspirin could help patients who are at risk for adenomas and adenocarcinomas. Adenomas are noncancerous polyps which, if allowed to grow, could become cancerous. Regular use of aspirin helped reduce further adenoma development, thus lowering the risk for colon cancer.
Another study suggested that using aspirin in conjunction with pre-operative radiation and chemotherapy could improve pathologic outcomes in patients, when comparing their cases to patients who did not take aspirin with pre-operative radiation and chemotherapy. These patients who took aspirin had a higher likelihood of what is known as a pathologic complete response. Even patients who had stage III colon cancer experienced positive results when aspirin was added to their therapeutic treatment plan.
It’s always good when cancer prevention is as accessible as your medicine cabinet. If you have questions about whether aspirin would benefit your health, talk to your doctor. Aspirin is safe and effective for most individuals, but it is not compatible with all medications, especially blood thinners. Taking aspirin over a long period of time can cause stomach irritation and weakening of the stomach lining, so always have a conversation with your doctor before taking aspirin regularly (Source: Healio).