If you watch the news, and read along with the scrolling headlines, you may have seen the headline "Pain Relievers Prevent Colon Cancer". The study that was cited is out of Denmark and credits daily, long term, use of aspirin or NSAIDs to reducing development of colorectal cancers. Long term in this study refers to at least 5 years.

While millions of people take a daily low-dose aspirin, under doctor's orders, there is a real risk involved and care should be taken before you add it to your daily regimen. Aspirin can cause stomach and other gastrointestinal bleeding. NSAIDs have been linked, with increasingly strong wording, to heart disease; some types of NSAIDs are known to cause liver damage with chronic  use.

Talk to your doctor. If you are concerned about the development of colon cancer and have not been screened, make an appointment with a physician at Asheville Gastroenterology Associates here. Your AGA doctor can help you assess your risk and determine if a daily aspirin is right for you. But, as always, the benefit has to outweigh the risk.