Aspirin Prevents Bowel Cancer

We've always supported the use of aspirin and we've also spoken on how scientific research can be misused to mislead and aspirin was our example. Aspirin has been found to be successful for reducing heart damage or high blood pressure but not heart attacks, and now cancer of the colon. Aspirin has not been found effect in stopping stab wounds or automobile accidents. It's not meant to. Research into such things would not be useful except to disparage or discourage aspirin use. It's affordable, available and well tested.

"Aspirin taken for several years at doses of at least 75 mg daily reduced long-term incidence and mortality due to colorectal cancer. Benefit was greatest for cancers of the proximal colon, which are not otherwise prevented effectively by screening with sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy." - The LANCET (Interpretation)

We also spoken on the amount used. In the recently release study more aspirin has been more effective. In the past we talked about governments recommend use levels but also the effects and concerns of toxicity in exceeding recommended amounts. Indeed in the studies the researchers spoke on this very issue of the twenty (20) year over fourteen thousand (14,032) Brits, Dutch, and Sweds participants:

"High-dose aspirin (≥500 mg daily) reduces long-term incidence of colorectal cancer, but adverse effects might limit its potential for long-term prevention. The long-term effectiveness of lower doses (75—300 mg daily) is unknown. We assessed the effects of aspirin on incidence and mortality due to colorectal cancer in relation to dose, duration of treatment, and site of tumour." - The LANCET (Background)

We know its more of a review of one specific study on the power of the aspirin. Aspirin works and if you're concerned about colorectal cancer you might want to add it to your medical regime if you FIRST discuss your intention with your primary care physician. According to the current research in the British Journal THE LANCET. So we do mention the publication in some of our stories but there is a caveat. Well there is now. The World Health Organization (WHO) finds some flaws with the publication:

"WHO disputes Lancet's report on number of malaria deaths in India - The World Health Organization has disputed the findings of a study on malaria that claimed the number of Indians dying from the mosquito-borne disease each year 13 times higher than the United Nations health agency's estimate. The study was published in the British medical journal Lancet. The research claimed that malaria causes 200,000 deaths in India every year. However, the WHO estimates that 15,000 malarial deaths take place each year in India." - OneIndia (ANI)

We don't often quote OneIndia either. We do so to say that the review of the review shouldn't be considered the final word on the subject. Neither we nor the Lancet are the final words on the matter. Aspirin - GOOD. Bowel cancer - BAD. The final word on the subject may come from the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREEE) international study.

"This research study is the largest international trial ever funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), and is being conducted in partnership with over 21 clinics and universities across the United States." - ASPREE (English Brochure)

While the study won't really affect or apply to us (God willing and the creek don't rise) if we live to a ripe old age the results might be useful to us. Prior research has already demonstrated the success of aspirin and taking a low dose a day has shown to be more useful than not. What the study doesn't do that we have concerns with is that it doesn't appear to be focusing on interactions among the elderly. We know of no cases where seniors are NOT on multiple medications. Nor do we support giving any senior a placebo for five (5) years when aspirin has proven to be so effective.

"Women's Health Study Researchers Publish Landmark Findings - Nancy Cook, ScD served as the lead investigator on the low-dose aspirin and cancer analyses, and I-Min Lee, MBBS, ScD was the lead investigator of the vitamin E and cardiovascular and cancer analyses. “As a result of our findings, we do not suggest doctors recommend low-dose aspirin therapy for primary prevention of cancer,” Cook said. WHS analyses could not rule out benefits of higher doses of aspirin, and Cook and her colleagues recommend additional study. Lee's analyses debunked a common misconception that vitamin E helps prevent cardiovascular disease or cancer in healthy women. “At present, a healthy lifestyle and regular screening for cardiovascular health and cancer are a woman's best choices for disease prevention,” she said. The study, however, did show that vitamin E reduced cardiovascular mortality rates, a finding that is not consistent with data from other studies prompting WHS researchers to recommend additional exploration." - BWH Bulletin (July 15, 2005)

The study contradicts the American research from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) in Boston. The twelve (12) year forty-thousand (40,000) women study. Except it doesn't. The BWH Women's Health Study (WHS) concerns low dose aspirin and "breast, colorectal and other site-specific cancers." The results from that study which included the use of Vitamin E and cancer. It's the contradictions in the findings that makes the study so interesting. Vitamin E doesn't work says the researchers.

"Lee's analyses debunked a common misconception that vitamin E helps prevent cardiovascular disease or cancer in healthy women. “At present, a healthy lifestyle and regular screening for cardiovascular health and cancer are a woman's best choices for disease prevention,” she said. The study, however, did show that vitamin E reduced cardiovascular mortality rates, a finding that is not consistent with data from other studies prompting WHS researchers to recommend additional exploration." - BWH Bulletin (July 15, 2005)

I-Min Lee is, in our humble opinion, wrong. The research says the researchers are wrong. Rather, the research indicates that its not completely correct in their assessment. While vitamin E and aspirin do NOT prevent cancer or disease. Yet, if we take aspirin and vitamin E we won't be among those numbers of the dead and dying that do not. Research shows that as well.