Painkillers may lower the risk of colon cancer - New study

Over the years, aspirin has been used as an analgesic to relieve minor aches and pains or as an anti-inflammatory medication. A new study adds to growing evidence that regular use of painkillers like aspirin or ibuprofen may reduce a person's risk of developing colon or rectal cancers - sometimes by as much as 50 percent.

There has been more evidence stating that a person's chances of getting rectal and colon cancers can be reduced by 50 per cent by painkillers like aspirin or ibuprofen.

The new study has pointed out that even people with a family history of colon cancer can benefit from the painkiller pills.

The researcher said that further study is required before the drugs could be prescribed to patients by a local practitioner.

Amanda Cross, one of the authors of the study, said that the prolonged use of aspirin can increase the risk of gastrointestinal ulcers and bleeds.

However scientists have not assessed the risks of taking pain-killers on a regular basis and therefore cannot make any public health recommendation.