How Can I Reduce My Risk Of Colon Cancer?

There are many things that put people at a greater risk for colon cancer, and fortunately most of them are modifiable parts of our daily lives. Obesity, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, heavy alcohol use and poor diet choices all increase your risk of colon cancer. Making changes to your daily diet is a big way to decrease your risk of colon cancer! Eating a high fiber and low fat diet promotes a healthy colon and decreases your cancer risk. Colon cancer is linked with diets high in red meat and processed meats like hot dogs and some lunch meats. Decreasing or eliminating these things from your diet can lower your cancer risks. Exercising, maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking and limiting alcohol use not only decreases your colon cancer risk but risks of other cancers as well.

While changing diet and lifestyle choices are a big part of preventing colon cancer, there is still more to do. Just because you eat well does not mean that you can avoid colonoscopies and following up with your physician. Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men and women in the United States. People should start colon cancer screenings at the age of 50 and earlier if they have multiple risk factors, genetic mutations or family history of colon cancer. It is important to talk with your doctor about the appropriate time for you to start colon health screenings.

Symptoms of colon cancer can include change in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain or bloating, fatigue and unexplained weight loss. If you have any symptoms of colon cancer talk with your doctor as soon as possible. The doctors at TDDC don’t want you to become a cancer statistic! Colon cancer is 90% curable if caught early…don’t put off your screening any longer.