Hank Dart, MS Washington University School of Medicine
Graham Colditz, MD, DrPH Washington University School of Medicine
2009-20-02
You Can Prevent Colorectal Cancer
Take control and lower your risk. Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable
cancers. Regular screening and a healthy lifestyle could prevent 75
percent of new cases.
Colorectal cancer kills close to 50,000 Americans each year. Lung cancer is the only cancer that kills more people. Both men and women can get colorectal cancer, and it usually strikes those over the age of 50.
The good news: Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. No matter what your age, there is a lot you can do to lower your risk of getting the disease.
The best way to prevent colorectal cancer is to get screening tests on a regular basis after
age 50. These tests can find non-cancerous tumors, called polyps, that sometimes turn into cancer. By finding polyps early and having them removed, you can prevent cancer from starting.
age 50. These tests can find non-cancerous tumors, called polyps, that sometimes turn into cancer. By finding polyps early and having them removed, you can prevent cancer from starting.
The screening tests aren’t as uncomfortable as you might think, and the benefits make them well worth it.
Screening Tests for Colorectal
Cancer
Talk to a health care professional about which screening test might be right for you. If you are
at increased risk for colorectal cancer, you may start screening earlier than most people.
at increased risk for colorectal cancer, you may start screening earlier than most people.
Start getting screened at age 50, using one of the following:
- Home fecal occult blood test
(FOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT) every
year - Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
- Barium enema every 5 years
- Virtual colonoscopy every 5 years
- Colonoscopy every 10 years
- Stool DNA test (ask doctor how often)
Lifestyle Changes to Lower Your Risk of
Colorectal Cancer
You can lower your risk of colorectal cancer by making healthy changes to your lifestyle. Use this article to decide which changes you should make. Start with a few. Then move on to the others.
Remember to talk to a health care professional before making any big changes in your lifestyle.
Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity
every day.
A lot of things count as physical activity. Try walking, jogging or dancing—whatever you
enjoy! In general, the more activity you get, the better. And any amount is better than none.
enjoy! In general, the more activity you get, the better. And any amount is better than none.
Maintain a healthy weight.
The best way to maintain a healthy weight is to be physically active and make healthy food choices. Body mass index is a good way to gauge how you’re doing with your weight. Visit this link to see where you fall: BMI
calculator.
calculator.
Eat no more than 2 to 3 servings of
red meat a week.
The less red meat you eat, the better. Choose chicken, fish, or beans instead of beef, pork, lamb, or veal. A serving of cooked meat is 3 ounces—the size of a deck of cards.
Take a multivitamin with folate every
day.
Taking a multivitamin with folate (also called folic acid) can give you added protection against colorectal cancer.
Have no more than one alcoholic drink
a day.
Drinking alcohol increases your risk of colorectal cancer, but it can have positive and
negative effects on your health. Talk to a health care professional about how alcohol may affect you.
negative effects on your health. Talk to a health care professional about how alcohol may affect you.
Get your calcium every day.
Low-fat dairy products, like milk and yogurt, are the best sources of calcium. Daily calcium supplements, calcium-fortified foods like orange juice, and dark green leafy vegetables are good too. Try to get about 1,000 –1,200 mg a day.
Get your vitamin D every day.
In addition to being good for bone health, vitamin D can help lower the risk of colon cancer. Supplements are usually the best choice since not many food are rich in the vitamin. Try to get about 1,000 mg a day.
What’s Out of Your
Control?
Some things that are out of your control can raise your risk of colorectal cancer. If one of these applies to you, talk to a health care professional. Together, you can plan ways to protect yourself through screening tests and a healthy lifestyle. Family History of Colorectal Cancer
Having a relative who has had colorectal cancer raises your risk. The closer the relative
is to you on the family tree, the higher your risk.
is to you on the family tree, the higher your risk.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Having inflammatory bowel disease (like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis) for 10
or more years raises your risk.
or more years raises your risk.
Web Resources
Original Source : Prevention Papers