There is a wide body of evidence that links the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, to a reduced risk of colorectal cancer. According to new research published in the journal Cancer, women who regularly use of NSAIDs have a better survival after being diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

Researchers from the University of California, Irvine studied 621 women in the California Teachers Study who were diagnosed with primary invasive colorectal cancer and asked them about their NSAID use. Of these women, 64% did not use NSAIDs regularly, 17% used them 1 to 6 days per week, and 20% used them daily. And, approximately 17% of the women with colorectal cancer had regularly taken NSAIDs for 5 years or less and about 18% reported regular NSAID use for more than 5 years.

The researchers found the regular NSAID use prior to colorectal cancer diagnosis was associated with a 42% reduced risk of death and improved survival from colorectal cancer compared to no regular NSAID use. If these results can be confirmed, they would have important implications on colorectal cancer prevention, according to the researchers.

Source:

Cancer 2009.