New research has contributed to evidence that the danger of developing rectal and colon cancers can be lessened by regularly using pain relievers, perhaps by up to 50%.

This latest report by the National Cancer Institute also demonstrates that individuals at higher risk, such as those with a family history of colon cancer also gain benefit from the use of painkillers such as ibuprofen or aspirin.

In the US 48 people in every 100,000 are diagnosed as having these “colorectal” cancers are diagnosed in about 48 out of every 100,000 people and constitute the third-leading cause of cancer deaths.

The latest research enhanced previous studies as it included greater numbers of individuals and also assessed exactly where in the colon the cancers developed.

Making use of details from over 300,000 individuals, the study assessed the frequency with which people took any of 19 painkillers, which included aspirin, ibuprofen and others.

The decrease in cancer risk was variable, dependant upon how frequently individuals used the pain relievers and also the variety of cancer involved.

In general, regular use of any of the painkillers showed a 20% decline in the danger of colorectal cancer over a 10 year period, and the more of the drugs that were taken the less likely was the diagnosis of colon or rectal cancer.