One of the world’s oldest and most widely used drugs, aspirin, may play a key role in cancer prevention.

New studies are showing that this drug, known primarily for pain relief, can significantly reduce the risk of tumors developing and spreading.

The case of a British man with a high genetic risk for colon cancer is one of the most significant examples. He has been taking aspirin daily for more than a decade and so far has not developed the disease. According to researchers, in people with Lynch syndrome, a genetic disorder that significantly increases the risk of cancer, daily aspirin use for at least two years can reduce the chance of developing colon cancer by up to 50%.

The results are beginning to influence health policy. In some countries, such as the UK and Sweden, medical guidelines have been updated, recommending the use of low-dose aspirin for high-risk patients.

But the benefits don’t just stop at prevention. Other studies show that aspirin can also reduce the risk of cancer returning after treatment, by reducing the spread of cancer cells in the body.

Scientists are also trying to understand the mechanism. Aspirin is suspected to affect several biological processes, inhibiting uncontrolled cell growth and helping the immune system more easily identify tumor cells.

However, experts warn that aspirin use is not without risk. Side effects include internal bleeding, stomach problems and, in rare cases, serious complications. For this reason, doctors emphasize that aspirin should not be taken without the advice of a specialist, especially by healthy people.

Studies continue, but one thing is clear: a medicine with a history of thousands of years may still have important secrets for human health.

Source: prizrenpost