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Article: Aspirin might reduce colon cancer risk; Study shows common painkiller reduces fatty acid thought to increase risk.(VARIETY)
- Article from:
- Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)
- Article date:
- August 27, 1997
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 Star Tribune Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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If you take four or five aspirin a week, you may be reducing your risk of developing or dying of colon cancer by 40 to 50 percent, according to several studies.
Aspirin's benefits may not be instantaneous. The studies indicate that it could take 10 to 20 years for aspirin to exert its full protective effect.
Two questions: How might aspirin prevent colon cancer from developing? And how much should you take - what is the right amount to protect against cancer but not enough to cause adverse such effects as intestinal bleeding?
Aspirin inhibits the production of prostaglandins, fatty acids released by cells that line the colon, the large or lower ...