Aspirin increases survival in colon cancer survivors while NSAIDs do not
April 27, 2012 | by Steven Rothrock MD
Long term studies have shown that daily use of low dose aspirin can lower your risk of developing colon cancer. Over a 20 year period, daily use of 75 to 81 milligrams (baby aspirin) may decrease the number of colon cancer cases by nearly one fourth, while decreasing deaths from colon cancer by up to one third.1
Authors of a new study in this month’s British Journal of Cancer looked at the effect of aspirin and non-steroid anti-inflammatory (NSAID) use on survival up to 10 years after colon cancer was initially diagnosed and treated in a group of 4481 cancer survivors in the Netherlands.2 Aspirin users were 23% more likely to survive compared to those who did not take daily aspirin. In contrast, NSAID use was associated with increased mortality and decreased survival.
The authors of this study recommend that larger, controlled clinical trials be undertaken to assess the role of aspirin in preventing colon cancer recurrence.
References
- Rothwell PM, Wilson M, Elwin CE, et al. Long term effect of aspirin on colorectal cancer incidence and mortality: 20 year follow up of five randomized trials. Lancet 2010; 376: 1741-1750.
- Bastiaannet E, Sampieri K, Dekkers OM, et al. Use of aspirin postdiagnosis improves survival for colon cancer patients. Br J Cancer 2012; 106: 1564-1570.
