title: Cancers prevented in Australia in 2010 through the consumption of aspirin.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the proportion and number of cancers in Australia in 2010 that may have been prevented from occurring due to daily use of aspirin in the population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We calculated the Prevented Fraction (PF) of colorectal and oesophageal cancers using standard formulae. The PF is the proportion of the hypothetical total load of cancer in the population that was prevented by exposure to aspirin. The formula incorporates estimates of the prevalence of aspirin use in Australian adult populations, the relative risks associated with aspirin use and cancer incidence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An estimated 335 colorectal cancers, 22 oesophageal adenocarcinomas and 29 oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) were potentially prevented due to daily aspirin use. These figures equate to 2.2%, 3.1% and 5.4% of all colorectal cancers, oesophageal adenocarcinomas and oesophageal SCCs, respectively, that would otherwise have occurred but were potentially avoided due to the daily use of aspirin pertaining in the Australian population.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At current levels of consumption, a small but measurable reduction in cancer incidence can be attributed to daily aspirin use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Assuming the benefits outweigh the harms of known gastrointestinal toxicity and other hazards, aspirin use may be considered for some people to prevent the development of particular gastrointestinal cancers.
authors.affiliation: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland.
authors.forename: Louise F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland.|Cancer Research UK, Manchester Institute and Institute of Inflammation and Repair, University of Manchester, United Kingdom.|School of Public Health, The University of Queensland.
authors.forename: Adele C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland.|School of Medicine, The University of Queensland.
authors.forename: Bradley J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kendall
authors.affiliation: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland.|School of Public Health, The University of Queensland.
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.affiliation: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland.|School of Public Health, The University of Queensland.
authors.forename: Christina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Nagle
authors.affiliation: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland.|National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Bain
authors.affiliation: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland.|School of Public Health, The University of Queensland.
authors.forename: Rachel E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Neale
authors.affiliation: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland.|School of Public Health, The University of Queensland.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Whiteman
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000517:prevention & control; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000517:prevention & control; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000077277:Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin
keywords: aspirin; cancer; prevented fraction; protective factor