Daily dose of baby aspirin can halve the possibilities of obtaining colorectal cancer if you have this condition

Could a pill a day keep your polyps at bay?

A new study suggests that a daily dose of aspirin could help prevent colorectal cancer in people with rare genetic disorder that increases the risk of developing the disease.

Better yet, British researchers found that the low doses of the free sale drug offer the same protection as the highest, with less side effects.

The study involved about 1,900 people with Lynch Syndrome, a hereditary condition that significantly increases the risk of various cancers, especially colorectal and endometrial.

Although it affects approximately 1.1 million Americans, less than 5% know that they carry their genetic mutation, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Previous research found that a daily dose of 600 milligram aspirin could reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in people with Lynch syndrome by half.

However, high doses can cause side effects such as stomach pain, ulcers and bleeding, which have made some patients reluctant to continue preventive treatment.

This time, scientists at the University of Newcastle of the United Kingdom divided participants with Lynch Syndrome in three groups, each taking 100mg, 300mg or 600mg of aspirinal daily for five years.

At the end of the study, there were fewer cases of colorectal cancer in the three groups, but those that took the lowest dose obtained the same protection with less side effects.

“We now have a good evidence that aspirin can prevent intestine cancer at which they are at high risk of the disease,” said Dr. David Crosby, Chief of Prevention and Research for Early Detection of Cancer Research UK.

The average risk of colorectal cancer in the United States is approximately 5%, but those with Lynch Syndrome have an impressive risk of 40%to 80%, 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 that only about 34% follow this advice, often due to concerns about side effects.

“Too many people are missing an opportunity to change their lives to prevent cancer,” said Sir John Burn, a professor of clinical genetics at the University of Newcastle and the main author of the study.

“We have the opportunity to give more people with protection from Lynch Syndrome, which would reduce the fear of intestine cancer in the future.”

Lynch Syndrome is the most common cause of hereditary colorectal cancer in the United States, with data showing that it represents about 3,800 cases each year.

Colon cancers linked to genetic disorder tend to develop much faster than in the general population, often in one or two years against about ten years, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

To make it worse, the diagnosed of colorectal cancer linked to Lynch Syndrome are more likely to deal with a relapse.

“People with Lynch Syndrome achieve regular colonoscopy and live with anxiety that is likely to develop intestine cancer during their lifetime,” Crosby said.

“Taking aspirin daily could reduce this risk at least half and relieve their fears,” he added.

Once a disease that mainly affected the adults, the cases of colorectal cancer have increased among the North -Americans in recent years.

It is now the fourth most diagnosed cancer in the United States and the second leading cause of death from cancer at the national level, according to the colorectal Cancer Alliance.