Aspirin is well known to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in high risk patients.

Now, according to studies made by Professor John Burn of Newscastle University, taking a daily dose of aspirin can reduce the incidence of bowel cancer by 60%,  he also said the evidence was “overwhelmingly strong”

A study was started to 861 patients with Lynch syndrome which affect 1 out of 1000 people. Professor Burn said there are 30,000 positive cases of Lynch Syndrome in UK. He said that if those patients start to take aspirin, it would prevent 10,000 cancers in 30 years and 1,000 deaths  are speculated to be prevented.

Lynch syndrome is a type of inherited cancer of the digestive  tract particularly the colon.

In the trial, they noticed that the patients who took aspirin for two years had a reduction of growing tumors for about 63%

But, he said it also has side effects,  “if  we can prevent 10,000 cancers in return for 1,000 ulcers and 100 strokes, in most people, it is a good deal.”

He also said that people with family history of bowel cancer should start taking aspirin in their routine, specially to those who have genetic predisposition.

There are questions asked about the result if it is safe for those who has low risk of bowel cancer, because it is noted that there are deadly effects upon taking the drugs.

The professor said that it is a balanced argument, but he said that it’s worth the risk.

He said, “I think where were headed for is people that in their 50′s and 60′s would look seriously at adding a low dose aspirin to their daily routine because it’s giving protection against cancer, heart attack and stroke. But if they do that they have got to have their eyes wide open. They will increase their risk for ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeds and very rarely they will have a stroke caused by aspirin.”