2024-08-06 18:31:39
Scientists have found a drug that significantly reduces the risk of colon cancer. It is a medication that is available in every pharmacy.
Researchers at the renowned Harvard University are currently reporting a new finding: a drug that many people keep in their medicine cabinet and have probably taken at least once could significantly reduce the risk of cancer. It is the well-known painkiller aspirin. But be careful: swallowing a tablet every day is still not recommended.
Study with 100,000 subjects: Does aspirin protect against cancer?
As the American researchers discovered, the active ingredient acetylsalicylic acid, or ASA for short, could prove particularly useful in the prevention of colon cancer. As part of a study, they observed the health of more than 100,000 people who had left their data at Massachusetts General Hospital over a period of 30 years.
The team focused on those who had risky lifestyle factors (increased body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, low physical activity and an unbalanced diet) and regularly took aspirin and compared them with subjects who did not take the painkiller.
Everyone is probably familiar with the active ingredient in aspirin, acetylsalicylic acid. It is usually taken to relieve headaches or fever. In low doses, the painkiller is also prescribed for certain cardiovascular diseases.
The result: The group that regularly took aspirin was less likely to develop cancer. Their ten-year incidence was 1.98 percent, while people who did not take aspirin reached 2.95 percent. This means that the cancer risk of the aspirin group was reduced by around 32 percent. For colon cancer, the researchers even calculated a risk reduction of 37.6 percent – in people who had a very unhealthy lifestyle.
The researchers defined “regular intake” as a dose of 325 milligrams of ASA twice weekly or a lower dose of 81 milligrams daily.
- Also read: You should not take these painkillers together
“Our results show that aspirin can proportionately reduce the significantly increased risk in patients with multiple risk factors for colon cancer. In contrast, people with healthier lifestyles have a lower baseline risk of colon cancer, and therefore their benefit from aspirin was still evident, although less pronounced,” said study author Daniel Sikavi in a press release.
According to the research team, the mechanisms behind this are complex. Aspirin is known to inhibit pro-inflammatory proteins and thus possibly prevent tumors. “Aspirin could also block the signaling pathways that lead to uncontrolled cell growth,” explained co-author Andrew Chan.
A few years ago, the active ingredient in aspirin was said to have an effect against cancer. Several studies had indicated that the painkiller provided protection. However, and the study authors from Harvard also emphasize this, the results do not mean that everyone should take aspirin every day from now on. And certainly not without consulting a doctor.
On the one hand, there could be significant side effects if taken long-term, such as bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, the results should be verified in further studies. This is why aspirin and related drugs are not yet approved for cancer prevention in Germany.
To protect yourself from cancer, it is advisable to reduce the risk factors that can be influenced. These include avoiding excess weight, exercising daily, not smoking, drinking little alcohol, avoiding carcinogenic substances and UV radiation, and taking advantage of early detection options (especially colonoscopy for colon cancer). According to experts, this would prevent the majority of new cases of cancer today.