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Longer life spans, high fat/low fiber diets and sedentary lifestyles predispose all Americans to colon cancer. The risk of colon cancer increases in those over the age of 50; plus, there is a higher incidence of colon cancer among African Americans versus Caucasians.
Learning about colon cancer risk factors and determining if you are at high risk is your answer to how to prevent colon cancer. Some colon cancer risk factors, such as unhealthy diet, can be controlled.
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The most effective way to reduce your risk of developing colon cancer is to undergo routine colorectal screening tests that can detect and remove pre-cancerous growths known as polyps. If polyps are removed, they cannot develop into colon cancer. Since polyps do not produce any recognizable colon cancer symptoms, regular screening is essential to prevent colon cancer.
Everyone over age 50 should be screened for colon cancer every 10 years. African Americans should begin colon cancer screenings at age 45. Other high risk patients should be screened once every two years starting at age 40. You may be at high risk for colon cancer if you:
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Have a personal or family history of colon cancer or polyps |
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Have a family history of other types of cancer (i.e. ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, uterine cancer and kidney cancer) |
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Have a personal or family history of inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s Disease |
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Use tobacco, drink alcohol to excess, are obese or lead a sedentary lifestyle. |
Click here to learn more about the screening
process.
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There is no way to completely eliminate the risk of developing colon cancer, which is why colon cancer screening is so important. However, there is evidence that you can reduce your chance of developing colon cancer by taking the following measures:
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Eat well: Research suggests that eating a diet rich in fiber and calcium may help prevent colon cancer and other diseases. Whole grains from breads and cereals, as well as nuts, fruits, vegetables and beans may also have protective effects. While the cancer-fighting mechanisms in various foods are not completely understood, researchers continue to work on the connection between cancer and diet, with promising results. Studies show that calcium, vitamin D and folic acid may keep colon cancer at bay. A diet high in saturated fat combined with a sedentary lifestyle may increase the risk of colorectal cancer. |
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Exercise regularly: Scientific evidence supports the conclusion that regular physical activity can reduce the risk of several cancers — particularly colon cancer — among men and women. A 1997 study by the Harvard School of Public Health determined that regular moderate exercise, such as a daily hour-long walk, reduced the risk of developing colon cancer by almost 50 percent. The study, which consisted of female registered nurses, also found that women with the highest category of body mass index, were almost twice as likely to develop colon cancer compared with women in the lowest category. |
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Quit smoking: Studies at the Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston have linked cigarette smoking to colon cancer. The studies also found that smoking at a young age increases one’s lifetime risk of colorectal cancer. And since your risk increases the longer you smoke, it's never too late to stop. |
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Limit alcohol intake: Excessive alcohol consumption may increase your risk for colon cancer. Alcohol has also been linked to other gastrointestinal cancers. So if you drink, do so only in moderation. |
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Aspirin: People who take aspirin regularly to keep their hearts healthy may reduce their risk of cancer. Taking an aspirin every other day for 20 years may cut the risk of colon cancer almost in half, according to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine. In addition, research conducted by doctors from St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York shows that a combination of aspirin and cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins may nip cells in the earliest stages of cancer. |
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Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT): Women who take ERT to alleviate symptoms of menopause may have a significantly lower risk of fatal colon cancer. Research reveals that women who used ERT had a 29-percent reduction in risk compared to those who did not use ERT. Among women who had been using ERT more than 10 years, there was a 55-percent reduction in risk. |
Learn more about how to prevent colon cancer by asking one of our experts.
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