THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, August 15, 1994 TAG: 9408150265
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: NEWSDAY
LENGTH: Short : 32 lines
A new study has found evidence that regular aspirin use reduces the risk of getting colorectal cancer, but researchers say there are still too many unanswered questions for them to recommend taking it regularly.
``We think the study adds more evidence that there is a link,'' said Dr. Edward Giovannucci of the Harvard Medical School, the study's lead researcher. ``But I don't think we're close to making a recommendation. . . . This isn't a definitive study. . . . ''
For example, Giovannucci said that because the study was not specifically designed to look at aspirin use, it was unclear how much of it was taken by the men in the study.
``That's one of the remaining issues,'' he said.
Looking at questionnaires answered by 47,900 male health professionals in 1986, 1988 and 1990, the researchers found that those who reported using aspirin two or more times a week were 32 percent less likely to develop colorectal cancer. Their risk of developing metastatic colorectal cancer - cancer that has spread - was reduced by half, according to the study published today in the Annals of Internal Medicine. by CNB