|
Post by jeffolie on Oct 28, 2011 0:32:52 GMT -6
Aspirin cuts colon cancer rate in high-risk patients, study says " ... The group followed 861 people with Lynch syndrome, which increases the risk of developing colon and other cancers. Some of the patients took two 600 mg aspirins every day, others took a placebo. On first analysis, in 2007, there was no difference in colon cancer incidence between the groups. But in 2010 when researchers checked again there were 34 colon cases of colon cancer among the placebo group and only 19 in the group who took aspirin -- a 44% reduced incidence. Patients who took aspirin for at least two years had a 63% reduced incidence. Burn and his co-authors noted that further studies would be needed to figure out optimum dose and duration of treatment, but wrote that their results "provide a basis for recommendation of aspirin chemoprevention in Lynch syndrome." In an accompanying comment, Dr. Andrew T. Chan of the Harvard Medical School and Dr. Scott M. Lippmann at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, agreed. "First and foremost, the results provide a strong rationale for routine use of aspirin in individuals with Lynch syndrome," they wrote, adding that taking aspirin could make sense for others, too. "With aspirin's well established vascular benefits and recent evidence of benefit for colorectal and other cancers in pooled cardiovascular randomized trials, Burn and colleagues' findings might at last tip the scales in favor of aspirin as the chemopreventive agent of choice for many individuals," www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-aspirin-colon-cancer-20111027,0,4617445.story?track=rss
|
|
|
Post by jeffolie on Dec 11, 2011 11:36:13 GMT -6
Here, aspirin again works to benefit health problems. Aspirin can cause stress on kidneys, etc; so, aspirin sideaffects should be watched out to identify. =================================== Aspirin Reduces Risk of Recurring Blood Clots With Less Bleedin in Study Dec 10, 2011 Aspirin may be a safe solution for preventing recurrences of dangerous blood clots in the veins, potentially providing a low-cost therapy after prescribed blood thinners, a study found. Patients who took aspirin daily for two years had a 40 percent reduced risk of clots breaking free and moving in the circulatory system compared with those taking a placebo, according to the study released today at the American Society of Hematology meeting in San Diego. “The reduction in events was striking, and this I believe will prompt additional studies,” said Evan Sadler, a professor of medicine at Washington University Medical School in St. Louis, and president of ASH, in an interview. “Aspirin’s really good at preventing second clots in people with heart attacks and strokes, but it hasn’t been thought to be effective on the venous side.” An earlier study involving almost 40,000 women showed that a daily, low dose of aspirin had little effect in preventing venous thromboembolism, or clots deep in the veins, in healthy women, said Sadler, who wasn’t involved in the studies. Aspirin, the 112-year-old pain killer, has been shown to cut the risk of strokes and heart attacks. The medicine also lowered the danger of colorectal cancer in a U.K. study published in October. Side effects including ulcers and stomach bleeding. In the new study, patients first took an anti-clotting pill for as long as a year before switching to a 100-milligram dose of aspirin, or placebo, for two years. While the anti-clotting medicine can be effective, it’s costly and can lead to increased bleeding, Sadler said. “Aspirin is appealing because it’s so cheap, and we know its safety profile,” he said. www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-10/aspirin-reduces-risk-of-recurring-blood-clots-with-less-bleedin-in-study.html
|
|
|
Post by unlawflcombatnt on Dec 11, 2011 14:56:57 GMT -6
An aspirin a day is good medical advice. It has been shown to reduce heart attacks. The studies are somewhat less conclusive on colon cancer. But my opinion is that aspirin does reduce colon cancer as well.
The doses recommended would have practically 0 effect on kidney function. That should not be a consideration in taking low-dose aspirin or not.
|
|
|
Post by jeffolie on Dec 11, 2011 15:56:38 GMT -6
An aspirin a day is good medical advice. It has been shown to reduce heart attacks. The studies are somewhat less conclusive on colon cancer. But my opinion is that aspirin does reduce colon cancer as well. The doses recommended would have practically 0 effect on kidney function. That should not be a consideration in taking low-dose aspirin or not. When my kidneys declined from level 4 to 3 (level 5 is normal while level 1 is horrible), the first thing my doctor did was take me off the aspirin telling me that at that level of kidney function taking aspirin lowered my kidneys function and increased my risk of declining to level 2. Fortunately, my kidneys returned to level 4 and my doctor restarted me on aspirin without a subsequent decline to level 3. Taking aspirin was NOT the cause of my kidneys issues but rather my doctor stated that aspirin would be OK at level 4 but not at level 3.
|
|
|
Post by graybeard on Dec 11, 2011 19:13:33 GMT -6
I used to think my (late) Mom was imagining things when she complained that aspirin caused her stomach pains. Then several years ago, I noticed the same thing. Coated aspirin only delayed the pain. My wife took so many aspirin for headaches, she got bleeding stomach ulcers. Baby aspirin should be ok for most.
GB
|
|
|
Post by unlawflcombatnt on Dec 12, 2011 0:08:06 GMT -6
I probably should have said that if your kidneys are normal, there's practically 0 effect. But I'm talking about the 81 mg mini-dose, and even up to 325 mg/day.
Mega-doses of aspiring CAN cause kidney problems, though even then it is rare.
During my last year of playing college baseball, I was taking 12--325 mg aspirin/per day (due to Rotator Cuff Tendonitis and probable Rotator Cuff Tear). Since I had normal kidneys, even this amount caused no problems. (My ears did ring a little, though).
I still have normal kidney function 20 years later.
Regarding stomach problems, many people do have stomach problems with aspirin especially, and to a lesser extent with other NSAIDs (i.e., Motrin, Ibuprofen, Naprosyn, Aleve, etc.) It's always recommended that these be taken with food.
The negative effects of all of these are worse if you have poor kidney function.
Again, however, it's rare for these drugs to cause kidney dysfunction or damage in people with normal kidneys at the recommended doses. (i.e., max of 2400 mg/day of Ibuprofen, 1,000 mg/day of Naproxen, etc.)
|
|
|
Post by graybeard on Dec 12, 2011 7:39:38 GMT -6
How do you know if you're at high risk for colon cancer or kidney problems?
|
|
|
Post by whoswho on Dec 12, 2011 9:34:16 GMT -6
Aspirin tears my stomach up. Even small doses, and even with food. Ditto for Aleve.
No darling, it's for real, I assure you. Some folks just have very sensitive stomachs. I even have to watch how much soda pop I drink. My dad was also this way, so it could be hereditary, I don't know.
|
|
|
Post by jeffolie on Dec 12, 2011 10:54:24 GMT -6
How do you know if you're at high risk for colon cancer or kidney problems? The screening tests for kidney function vary from a blood sample to a 24 hour urine collection, etc. All kidney screening tests routinely done at competent labs at the request of doctors have become straightforward that I experienced. I found lots of accepted kidney info including early detection info at the National Kidney Foundation. www.kidney.org/kidneyDisease/
|
|
|
Post by unlawflcombatnt on Dec 12, 2011 23:36:49 GMT -6
How do you know if you're at high risk for colon cancer or kidney problems? Kidney function can be measured by the most basic lab tests ordered in doctors' offices. It's referred to by different names--Chem7, Electrolytes, etc. But it includes measures of Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Bicarbonate (usually), Glucose, BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen), and Creatinine. The latter 2 (BUN & Creatinine) are pretty good indicators of kidney function. If they're normal, your kidneys usually are as well. You're at higher risk for kidney dysfunction if you have untreated or insufficiently treated high blood pressure or diabetes. If you have lupus you're also at higher risk for kidney failure. Regarding colon cancer, the major risk factor is family history. Ulcerative Colitis also increases risk. Everyone should get colonoscopies as early as they can. The recommended age to start is around 50. (If it were up to me, it would be age 35.) Colonoscopies can directly save lives, because polyps that may have turned into cancer can be removed with the colonoscope. Invasive cancers can be detected at an earlier--and curable stage.
|
|