Study to see if two pills cut cancer risk

Researchers will be testing if daily doses of a fish oil extract and aspirin could help prevent pre-cancerous growths from developing in the bowel.

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.

Cutting off polyps can, however, cause bleeding or leave holes in the bowel wall and researchers are looking for an alternative treatment.

It is known a substance found in fish oil known as Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and aspirin can, when taken on their own, provide some protection and the scientists want to know if the benefits are greater if taken together.

"A major advantage of EPA and aspirin is that they are both safe, have few side effects and they are already used widely by people who have heart disease or who have had a stroke," said Professor Mark Hull from Leeds University, who is leading the trial.