6 Tips to Decrease Your Risk of Colorectal Cancer
“Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths among men and women in the United States.” Nina Smith, APRN, Clinical Director of Volunteers in Medicine, Jacksonville.
Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths among men and women in the United States. While deaths from colorectal cancer have decreased over the last ten years, deaths for people less than age 55 have increased. Based on this data, the age to start routine colorectal screening has dropped from age fifty to age forty-five.
Tips for decreasing the risk of colorectal cancer:
Get colorectal screening: by colonoscopy or Cologuard fecal testing ( www.cologuard.com)
Focus on your diet: a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains have been linked to lower rates of colorectal cancer
Exercise: Being physically active has been shown to decrease gut inflammation which is linked to decrease rates of colorectal cancer
Limit alcohol intake: alcohol has been linked to gut inflammation and increase inflammation both risks for colorectal cancer
Maintain a health weight: obesity or being overweight has been linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer
Do not smoke: smoking has been linked to gut inflammation and DNA damage which carries an increased risk of colon cancer
These tips were provided by Nina Smith, APRN, Clinical Director of Volunteers in Medicine, Jacksonville. For further resources visit Cancer.org and Cedars-Sinai.org.
