Aspirin no substitute for healthy lifestyle to prevent colon cancer, says UCI Health surgeon
August 07, 2024
IN THE NEWS: A new study has found that the regular use of aspirin could lower colorectal cancer risk, particularly among individuals with lifestyle risk factors such as smoking or obesity.
However, their risk was still not as low as individuals with the healthiest lifestyle, whose risk was low whether they took aspirin or not.
UCI Health colorectal surgeon Dr. Jason A. Zell, who was not involved with the study, tells Healthline that the findings are unlikely to change the recommendations of the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF), which in 2022 advised against the use of aspirin to prevent colon cancer, noting a lack of evidence and complications such as ulcers that are sometimes caused by the medication.
“This study adds to the growing body of evidence on the importance of diet and lifestyle modifications in preventing colorectal cancer.”
Zell emphasizes the need for routine screening starting at age 45. He also suggests calling your primary care physician if you notice anything unusual before then.
Zell specializes in the prevention and treatment of colon and other gastrointestinal cancers at the UCI Health Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. He is also an associate professor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the UC Irvine School of Medicine.
A leading cancer researcher, Zell has received funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to perform genetic epidemiology-based colorectal cancer research. He is a principal or co-investigator for several NIH-funded trials involving patients with gastrointestinal malignancies. He is the author of more than 70 manuscripts and two book chapters.
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