High-dose Aspirin lowers some cancer risk

Recent studies have shown that a low, regular dose of aspirin may not lower cancer risk. But a newer study finds that taking a higher dose for at least five years may lower the risk for people at high risk of colon, prostate or breast cancer.

In the 146,000 people surveyed, 12.3 percent -- 18,000 people -- were diagnosed with cancer over 12 years. But people who took adult doses of aspirin daily were 20 percent less likely to have prostate cancer and 30 percent less likely to have colorectal cancer.

However, the study did not show any difference in the risk of other cancers such as lung, bladder, melanoma, leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, pancreatic cancer or kidney cancer.

The researchers said that the information did not translate into immediate recommendations, in part because it was not based on a randomized trial. There could be other factors besides aspirin use influencing the results.

While low-dose aspirin has been shown to have some benefits for the heart, long-term use can cause other problems, such as intestinal bleeding.