Small doses of aspirin, often taken to cut the risk of a heart attack, also reduce the probability of developing colon [The part of the large intestine that runs from the cecum to the rectum as a long hollow tube that serves to remove water from digested food and let the remaining material, solid waste called stool, move through it to the rectum and leave the body through the anus. ] cancer [abnormal cells that divide without control, which can invade nearby tissues or spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body. ] , British researchers reported on Thursday.

Low doses of aspirin, a Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), can cut down the risk of colorectal cancer [abnormal cells that divide without control, which can invade nearby tissues or spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body. ] by a quarter while that of colon [The part of the large intestine that runs from the cecum to the rectum as a long hollow tube that serves to remove water from digested food and let the remaining material, solid waste called stool, move through it to the rectum and leave the body through the anus. ] cancer deaths by a third.

"Our study shows NSAIDs target stem cells that have accumulated mutations that could lead to cancer development, and initiate a biochemical pathway that makes those cells undergo programmed cell death, a process called apoptosis," Dr. Zhang, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Pitt School of Medicine, and UPCI, said.

Earlier studies have revealed that high doses of the drug can highly decline the risk of developing colon cancer as well as polyps, minor growths that might later turn into cancer.

However, high doses might act dangerous for some, leading to fatal bleeding in the stomach area.

The study details
The study conducted by Peter Rothwell of John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and colleagues analyzed 4 different studies from UK and Sweden involving 14000 people.

Half of the participants were taking low-dose aspirin for heart disease on a regular basis.

The researchers then followed the study group for a period of 18 years.

Revelations of the study
By the end of the research, 2.8 percent of the participants had developed colon cancer, the study claims.

Aspirin consumption lead to a 24 percent decline in the 20-year risk of colon cancer and a 35 percent reduction in colon cancer deaths.

"This interesting study would incite clinicians to turn to primary prevention of colorectal cancer by aspirin at least in high risk-populations. Specific guidelines for aspirin chemoprevention would be the next logical step," Dr. Robert Benamouzig and Dr. Bernard Uzzan of Avicenne Hospital in Bobigny, France, wrote in a commentary.

Other medicines like ibuprofen too can reduce the risk of suffering from colon cancer in people taking them on a regular basis.

Patients are advised to get themselves detected for colon cancer using instruments that can detect the disease from inside in some developed nations like United States and Britain.

Advanced procedures like sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy are applied for a highly comprehensive screening which can produce better accurate results.

The findings have been published in 'The Lancet' medical journal.