Could a pill a day keep polyps at bay?
A new study suggests that a daily dose of aspirin could help ward off colorectal cancer in people with a rare genetic disorder that increases their risk of developing the disease.
Better yet, British researchers found that low doses of the over-the-counter drug offer the same protection as higher ones — with fewer side effects.
The study involved nearly 1,900 people with Lynch syndrome, a hereditary condition that significantly raises the risk of several cancers, especially colorectal and endometrial.
Though it affects an estimated 1.1 million Americans, fewer than 5% know they carry the genetic mutation, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Previous research found that a daily 600 milligram aspirin dose could cut colorectal cancer risk in people with Lynch syndrome by half.
However, high doses can cause side effects like stomach pain, ulcers and bleeding, which have made some patients reluctant to continue with the preventive treatment.
This time, scientists at Newcastle University in the UK split participants with Lynch syndrome into three groups, each taking 100mg, 300mg or 600mg of aspirin daily for five years.
By the end of the study, there were fewer colorectal cancer cases in all three groups, but those taking the lowest dose got the same protection with fewer side effects.
“We now have really good evidence that aspirin can prevent bowel cancer in those at a high risk of the disease,” said Dr. David Crosby, head of prevention and early detection research at Cancer Research UK.
The average American’s lifetime risk of colorectal cancer is about 5%, but those with Lynch syndrome face a staggering 40% to 80% risk, according to MD Anderson Cancer Center.
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends that people with Lynch syndrome take aspirin daily to reduce their chances of developing cancer.
However, studies show only about 34% follow this advice — often due to concerns about side effects.
“Too many people are missing out on a potentially life-changing opportunity to prevent cancer,” said Sir John Burn, professor of clinical genetics at Newcastle University and lead author of the study.
“We have a chance to give more people with Lynch syndrome protection, which would reduce their fear of bowel cancer in the future.”
Lynch syndrome is the most common cause of hereditary colorectal cancer in the US, with data showing that it accounts for about 3,800 cases each year.
Colon cancers tied to the genetic disorder tend to develop far faster than in the general population — often within one to two years versus about 10 years, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
To make matters worse, those diagnosed with colorectal cancer linked to Lynch syndrome are more likely to face a relapse down the line.
“People with Lynch syndrome get regular colonoscopies and live with the anxiety that they are highly likely to develop bowel cancer in their lifetime,” Crosby said.
“Taking aspirin daily could cut this risk by at least half and alleviate their fears,” he added.
Once a disease that primarily affected older adults, colorectal cancer cases have surged among younger Americans in recent years.
It’s now the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in the US, and the second leading cause of cancer death nationwide, according to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.
