Don't count on daily aspirin to prevent colon cancer
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- Reviewed by Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Taking aspirin for five to 15 years did not reduce the number of new cases of colon cancer. Aspirin might reduce new cases of colon cancer when taken for 15 years or longer, but the evidence for that observation was limited. However, aspirin increased the risk of bleeding in the brain and around the skull.
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About the Author
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
About the Reviewer
Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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