Aspirin can reduce the risk of cancer

Taking aspirin can help in reducing the risk of colon cancer by 60 percent in people who have a history of disease. According to Tim Bishop, a researcher and the professor of epidemiology at Leeds University, the study they have conducted has proved another positive effect of aspirin and people who are at risk of colon cancer should seriously consider taking aspirin every day.

For the study, the researchers from University of Leeds and Newcastle analysed about 1000 people from about 16 countries. All the people who were surveyed were suffering from Lynch syndrome which increases the risk of cancer in people.

These people were divided into two groups – one group took two aspirins a day and the other group did not take aspirin. It was found that people who took aspirin for two years had reduced risk of cancer when compared to people who did not take aspirin. Also, women who took aspirin had reduced risk of womb cancer.

However, the study does not say how aspirin helps in preventing cancer. Some scientists are of the view that aspirin causes the damaged DNA to die which reduces the risk of cancer. But people must be aware of the dosage they must take to reduce the risk of cancer. Increasing the dosage of aspirin can be dangerous as it can cause vascular bleeding and ulcers.

Some scientists are of the opinion that long-term use of aspirin can reduce the risk of cancer. However, most doctors avoid suggesting the use of aspirin for long-term use as it can cause serious stomach bleeding. People must not take even low doses of aspirin without consulting their doctor.

Virus can be used to treat cancer

There is a new hope for cancer patients as an engineered virus can target cancer cells when injected into the blood. The virus only attacks the tumour without affecting the healthy tissues of the body.

Using virus to treat cancer is not new as many doctors inject the virus directly into the tumour to treat the patient. This virus only attacks the cancer without affecting the immune system of the patient. This new study shows promise as the virus is injected directly into the blood and it does not affect the immune system. Since it is injected into the blood it can help in treating multiple organs that have been affected by cancer.

Researchers have modified the vaccinia virus which is being used to develop vaccine for smallpox. This virus is dependent upon the chemical pathway that is common in certain cancer cells in order to replicate their path.

Professor John Bell, from the University of Ottawa and lead said that he was very excited because it is the first time that viral therapy is showing signs of attacking cancer cells after it was injected in humans.

However, the virus cannot cure cancer but only prevent further growth of cancer. Since the research was conducted to test the safety of the virus, the patients were given only one dose.

Most experts believe that the research is still in its early stages and it will take a few years before this treatment is commercially launched in the market. However, these experts are of the view that this research can change are approach and method of treating cancer.