Study examines aspirin use to prevent colorectal cancer

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concluded that aspirin reduces the risk of colorectal cancer by 40 percent as well as recurrence of advanced polyps, which are a major risk factor. To explore whether high risk patients are adhering to USPSTF guidelines, researchers analyzed data from structured interviews with 84 patients and found that less than half (42.9 percent) reported taking aspirin. These findings pose major challenges that require multifactorial approaches by physicians and patients.