Could daily doses of a fish oil extract and aspirin help stop pre-cancerous growths from developing in the bowel? That’s what a study led by the University of Leeds hopes to find out.
Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide, with over a million new patients being diagnosed each year. In most cases, the cancer develops from tiny, slow-growing nodules on the bowel wall, known as polyps, which can be detected and removed during a 'colonoscopy' camera examination. Doctors currently remove all polyps that they see because they cannot tell which ones will turn cancerous. Like all invasive procedures, having a colonoscopy carries a small risk of complications. Although these complications are rare, cutting off polyps can occasionally cause bleeding or even leave holes in the bowel wall. Because of this, doctors want to find drugs or dietary supplements that can shrink existing nodules and prevent new ones from forming. If effective 'polyp prevention pills' could be found, then patients at risk of developing these pre-cancerous bowel nodules would need far fewer 'check-up' colonoscopies.
TO READ THIS ARTICLE, CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT
And extend your reading, free of charge and with no commitment.
