Research Links Aspirin to Colorectal Cancer Decline in Women

New research shows that low-dose aspirin can help prevent colorectal cancer in women. Aspirin has already been shown to have potential preventative properties for other cancers, including melanoma.

The long-term study lasted for 18 years and involved 40,000 women age 45 and older. The participants were randomly assigned to take either 100 milligrams of aspirin or a placebo every other day.

The researchers did not find a link between colorectal cancer and and aspirin use during the first 10 years of the study. After women took it for more than 10 years, however, the benefits became more clear. The researchers observed a 42 percent reduction in colorectal cancer among the group of women taking aspirin, relative to the women who were not.

The researchers did not find that age or other factors were significantly associated with the study results.

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