Daily NSAID Use May Lower Colon, Rectal Cancer Risk

The American Gastroenterology Association newsletter reported that people who use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) painkillers regularly, may have a 50% reduced risk of developing colon or rectal cancer, according to a study in the American Journal of Gastroenterology. The researchers reviewed survey data from 300,000 adults, who indicated how often they took any of 19 NSAIDs. They found that daily NSAID use was associated with a 28% decreased risk of colon cancer risk, while monthly NSAID use was linked to a 14% reduced risk. Among people with immediate family members diagnosed with colon cancer, daily NSAID users had a 28% reduced risk of colon or rectal cancer, and there was an 11% risk among weekly NSAID users.