You've probably heard that an aspirin a day can help keep heart attacks away. Somewhere along the line, colon cancer got tacked onto that statement, too.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) published a study in the Annals of Internal Medicine clarifying the scientific evidence regarding aspirin use and colon cancer prevention. If you take aspirin on your own volition (not recommended by your doctor) because you're trying to reduce your colon cancer risk, the recommendations in the study are particularly relevant to you.
Results of the Study
The USPSTF performs independent studies and then translates their results into recommendations to doctors. The panel's advice was quite clear in this instance: As a general rule, doctors shouldn't routinely suggest that people at average risk for colon cancer take aspirin (or NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen sodium) to prevent colon cancer. Why? Because they found "fair" evidence that the risks of taking an aspirin (or NSAID) daily at a dose high enough to actually reduce the risk of colon cancer would likely do more harm than good.
The study explained that low doses of aspirin don't have much effect on polyp formation (colon cancer precursors). To stifle polyp growth, higher doses of aspirin (and NSAIDs) over extended periods are needed. The problem is higher doses/extended use of aspirin can cause stomach bleeding and higher doses/extended use of NSAIDs can cause stomach bleeding and kidney problems, especially in the elderly.
For information on safe and effective ways to reduce your risk of colon cancer, please read the Top 10 Colon Cancer Prevention Tips.
Source: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. "Routine Aspirin or Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs for the Primary Prevention of Colorectal Cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement." Annals of Internal Medicine 146.5 (6 Mar. 2007): 361-364. Accessed 11 Mar. 2007 [http://www.annals.org/cgi/content/full/146/5/361#TA1].
