Daily HealthBeat Tip - May 25, 2007

Aspirin and colon cancer

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Aspirin can help reduce the risk of a heart attack – and, in some cases, cancer.

But even aspirin’s big benefits have limits. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent panel of experts, reviewed aspirin against colon cancer. The review was supported by HHS’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Catherine Dube of the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada:

"Low-dose daily aspirin use does not appear to protect against colorectal cancer. The use of higher doses of aspirin further increases the risk of gastrointestinal complications and hemorrhagic stroke." (12 seconds)

The panel recommends against aspirin to prevent colorectal cancer in average-risk healthy people. The finding does not apply to people who had colorectal cancer or certain conditions that can lead to it.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

Last revised: May, 25 2007