Not quite yet.
The media is full of reports today about a clinical trial showing that a 600 milligram daily dose of aspirin reduced the incidence of hereditary colon cancer by 63%.
While this is a somewhat intriguing result, we would point out that the trial lasted only about 4.5 years and the result is based on a total of 48 study subjects who developed colon cancer — 18 in the aspirin group and 30 in the placebo group. The incidence of colon cancer was 4.3% in the aspirin group and 6.9% in the placebo group.
Are you convinced?
Shouldn’t the reported reduction in colon cancer incidence be 38% [(6.9-4.3)/6.9], as opposed to 63%?
I agree with Walter Sobchak.
The major benefit from aspirin seems to be from its reduction of inflammation – a common cause of pain. After heat (think hot springs spas) and adrenalin it is the third most effective anti-histamine/anti-inflammatory.
If cancer prevention is what you are after, though, I would go after the #1 cause of genetic damage – the sole factor all cancers have in common.
Dr. Isacc Asimov put together a pretty strong circumstantial case that the most effective mutagen is radioactive carbon-14. The best way to reduce/eliminate C-14 from your body is to eat foods raised in greenhouses wherein the CO2 comes from fossil sources.
I am taking Aspirin anyway. It seems to be good for what ever ails you.