Regular use of aspirin among patients of colon cancer after undergoing surgery can reduce the risk of recurrence of cancer or death.
In a study which was presented at the annual meeting of American Society of Clinical Oncology said that the risk of recurrence reduces by about 50% for the patients who took regular aspirin after surgery, once they were diagnosed as suffering from colon cancer.Colon and rectum together form the colorectal area. That is why often colon cancer is also called colorectal cancer. Cancer of the colorectal happens when there is growth of abnormal or malignant cells within the lining of colon or rectum.
Researchers had studied 830 patients with stage III colon cancer who were prescribed post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy. Consistent aspirin use was reported by 8.7% of the patients while 4.3% took regular doses of selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors like celecoxib or rofecoxib.
Other than aspirin, some beneficial effects were also noted for the drugs celecoxib (Celebrex) and rofecoxib (Vioxx).
The results showed apart from reduction in the risk of cancer recurrence, the risk of death from cancer also reduced by 48%.
Reference: American Society of Clinical Oncology, Press release, May 2005
