The substantial size of the relative
reduction in risk seen in our analysis (28% for advanced adenomas)
and seen in clinical trials that evaluated the effect of aspirin on
colorectal cancer risk (26% reduction) ( 2 ) indicates the potentially
important health benefits of aspirin use. Of course, these benefi ts
need to be considered in the context of all of the health effects of
aspirin, positive and negative. As noted above, there is extensive
research regarding the largely positive cardiovascular effects of
aspirin ( 23 – 25 ). The possibility of cancer prevention can now be
added to future considerations of risk and benefi t.