In the world of health and medical science, a new hope is rising for people suffering from colon cancer. This hope is not about any expensive or special treatment but a simple, cheap medicine which costs less than a packet of chips. Yes, we are talking about Metformin – a common medicine used for diabetes patients. New studies are showing that this affordable tablet may help fight colon cancer as well.
Let’s understand how this small tablet is creating such big headlines in the medical field.
What is Metformin and How It Works?
Metformin is a very old medicine, mainly given to people who have type 2 diabetes. It helps in keeping blood sugar in control by improving how the body uses insulin. It also stops the liver from making extra sugar.
Doctors have been using this medicine for more than 60 years. It is considered safe and is available at a very low price in India – sometimes even less than 20 rupees per pill.
But now, researchers believe that this small medicine may have another power. It may help in slowing down colon cancer, especially for people who have a certain type of dangerous gene mutation called KRAS.
Why KRAS Mutation is Very Difficult to Treat?
In simple words, KRAS is a gene that controls how our cells grow. But if this gene becomes faulty, it keeps the “growth switch” always on. This is how cancer cells start growing without control.
KRAS mutations are very common in colon, lung, and pancreatic cancer. The problem is, these mutations make cancer hard to treat. Many modern medicines do not work properly on KRAS mutation cases.
That is why when scientists saw that Metformin can slow down KRAS mutation cancer cells, it became big news in the medical world.
How Does Metformin Work on Cancer?
Scientists tested Metformin in the laboratory and found something interesting. Cancer cells usually eat glucose (sugar) very fast to grow quickly. This is called the Warburg effect.
Metformin enters the body and targets the mitochondria, which is like the powerhouse of the cell. It also activates a special enzyme called AMPK. AMPK tells the cell to slow down because there is less energy available.
In this way, Metformin doesn’t kill the cancer directly like chemotherapy but weakens the cancer cells. This gives doctors more time to treat patients with other treatments, and it may also stop the cancer from spreading fast.
Why This Can Be a Big Change in Cancer Treatment?
Cancer treatment is usually very complicated. Doctors use surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and other costly treatments. These treatments have many side effects and are also expensive.
If a low-cost medicine like Metformin can become part of the treatment, it will be a relief for many families. Especially in India, where many people cannot afford costly cancer treatment, this small medicine can bring big hope.
Since Metformin is already approved and widely used for diabetes, it will not take too long to get approval for cancer if future tests are successful.
Aspirin: Another Old Medicine with New Possibility
Not just Metformin, even Aspirin – a small tablet people take for headache or heart health – is also being studied for cancer. Aspirin helps reduce inflammation, and long-time inflammation in the body can lead to cancer.
Studies have shown that people who take low-dose aspirin for 5-10 years have less chance of getting colon cancer. But doctors warn that aspirin is not for everyone. It can cause side effects like stomach bleeding.
That’s why no one should start taking aspirin daily without doctor’s advice.
What’s Next for Metformin?
Till now, the Metformin cancer research has only been done in laboratories. Next, scientists will test it on animals to see how it works in a living body. After that, human trials will start.
These trials will answer questions like:
- How much Metformin is needed for cancer treatment?
- Are there any new side effects?
- Which type of patients will benefit the most?
If results are positive, Metformin may soon become a part of cancer treatment guidelines.
Conclusion
In India, where millions of people struggle with the high cost of cancer treatment, a cheap and trusted medicine like Metformin brings new hope. If future research proves successful, this medicine may become a life-saving option for colon cancer patients, especially those with KRAS mutations.
At the same time, aspirin is also showing possibilities but should only be taken under doctor’s supervision.
Medical science is full of surprises. Sometimes, the solution is not a new invention but an old medicine we already have in our homes.