Task Force Releases Recommendations on Aspirin to Prevent Colon Cancer, Heart Disease

By Stacy SimonRESOURCES: Aspirin and Cancer Prevention: What the Research Really Shows The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has published new recommendations about aspirin to help prevent cardiovascular disease (heart attacks and strokes) and colorectal cancer (commonly called colon cancer).The USPSTF says people who are ages 50-59 years, who have at least a 10% risk of developing cardiovascular disease within the next 10 years, and who have no increased risk for bleeding should take low-dose aspirin regularly to help prevent heart attack, stroke, and colon cancer. Candidates should also have a life expectancy of at least 10 years and be willing to take low-dose aspirin every day for at least 10 years.The USPSTF is an independent panel of experts authorized by Congress to make recommendations about specific preventive services for patients with no signs or symptoms. It released a draft of these recommendations in September, 2015. The final recommendations were published Monday, April 11, in Annals of Internal Medicine.For people ages 60-69 years who have at least a 10% risk of developing cardiovascular disease within the next 10 years, the USPSTF says to discuss taking daily low-dose aspirin with your doctor. For this age group, the benefits of regular aspirin use are not as clear. While studies have shown that regular use of low-dose aspirin can help prevent heart attack, stroke, and colon cancer, it also increases the risk of serious bleedi...
Source: American Cancer Society :: News and Features - Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Colon/Rectum Cancer Source Type: news