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news.People at average risk for colorectal cancer should not take aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to try to prevent the disease, according to a new recommendation from the US Preventive Services Task Force.
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This is the first time the Task Force has made a recommendation related to taking medicines to prevent colorectal cancer.
After reviewing the latest evidence on the topic, the Task Force found that the potential harms of taking more than 300mg per day of aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) outweigh the potential benefits of colorectal cancer prevention. The risks associated with the drugs are intestinal bleeding or kidney failure.
Meanwhile, patients taking aspirin to prevent other conditions such as heart disease should continue to discuss the benefits with their clinicians, according to Task Force chair Ned Calonge.
The Task Force found good evidence that taking low doses of aspirin, usually less than 100mg, can reduce risk for heart disease but does not reduce the rate of colorectal cancer.
The US Preventive Services Task Force is an independent panel of experts in prevention and primary care.
The Task Force based its conclusions on a report from a research team led by David Moher, at AHRQ's Evidence-based Practice Center at the University of Ottawa in Canada.