Start Taking Steps to Prevent Your Risk of Colon Cancer

It’s March, which means you will hear a lot of discussion on an important health matter that affects millions of men and women every year – colon cancer. Colon Cancer Awareness Month doesn’t get a lot of press, but it’s time to change that. More importantly, however, it’s time to change how we treat our bodies and start paying attention to the risk factors of colon cancer that are within our ability to change. If you’re having trouble pinpointing these factors and need a push in the right direction, the team at Texas Digestive Disease Consultants can help with our expert medical and personal care.

Risk Factors

Although research hasn’t been able to definitively prove what causes colon cancer, some common risk factors can be proven. Since some can’t be changed, race, genetics, and age for example, it’s good to focus on the ones that are within your control. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle should be your first step toward preventing colon cancer. In addition to helping in the fight against cancer, being at a healthy weight and fitting regular exercise into your schedule will help with all aspects of your life and health. If you’re looking to adjust your diet, it’s good to avoid diets high in red meat or processed meat and stick with lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. If you’re a smoker or heavy drinker, it is time to stop that as well. Limited alcohol is fine, but should not exceed more than 2 drinks a day for men and 1 drink a day for women.

What Should I Do?

Even though some risk factors are out of your hands to change, it is important to understand them so you can discuss them with your doctor. Chances of having colon cancer increase after age 50. You should also understand your genetic factors – family history of colon cancer is important, as is a personal history of inflammatory bowel disease.

Perhaps one of the most important factors in preventing colon cancer is proper health screening. If you are 50 years old or older, or have one of the above discussed risk factors, find a Texas Digestive Disease Consultants location near you today  to talk about your screening options and needs.