Aspirin a Day Can Prevent Bowel Cancer in Lynch Syndrome Patients

Research has confirmed that taking an aspirin a day can significantly reduce the risk of bowel cancer in individuals with Lynch syndrome, a rare genetic condition. A new trial involving 1,900 participants, including 1,879 people with Lynch syndrome from the UK, Europe, and Australia, suggests that a low dose of aspirin (75-100mg) can be as effective as higher doses in preventing bowel cancer, while minimizing the risk of side effects. This discovery has the potential to significantly impact the lives of the 175,000 people in England who have Lynch syndrome.

Key Takeaways:

• The CaPP3 trial found that participants who took a low dose of aspirin (75-100mg) for five years had the same level of bowel cancer prevention as those who took higher doses.
• Aspirin taken at lower doses is likely to cause fewer side effects, including bleeding and stomach ulcers, than at higher doses.
• Only a quarter of people with Lynch syndrome are currently taking aspirin, leaving many at risk of bowel cancer.
• Scientists are in talks with the British National Formulary to update the advice it gives on aspirin, with the aim of making it more widely prescribed for individuals with a high risk of bowel cancer.
• The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) currently recommends that people with Lynch syndrome consider taking aspirin daily to prevent bowel cancer.
• Many GPs are still not advising patients with Lynch syndrome to take aspirin due to concerns about dosage, despite a 2016 survey revealing 47% of GPs were aware of the recommendation.

Statistics:

• 1,900 participants took part in the CaPP3 trial.
• 1,879 of these participants had Lynch syndrome.
• 175,000 people in England have Lynch syndrome, equivalent to 1 in 400 members of the population.
• 47% of GPs in a 2016 survey were aware of the recommendation to prescribe aspirin to people with Lynch syndrome.
• The trial found that those on the lowest aspirin dose did just as well as those on the higher doses in terms of bowel cancer prevention.

Sources:

• "Aspirin a day can prevent bowel cancer in people at high risk," BBC News, [no date].
• "CaPP3 trial: Low dose aspirin 'as good' as higher dose in preventing bowel cancer in Lynch syndrome patients," The Guardian, [no date].
• "Lynch syndrome: Can aspirin prevent bowel cancer?," Medical News Today, [no date].
• National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines on aspirin and bowel cancer prevention.