Tips on Lowering Your Risk For Colon Cancer

Colon cancer ranks third as the most common form of cancer and is the second leading cause of deaths related to cancer in the US. You can lower your risk of being a victim of this very serious disease by following the tips listed below.

Get regular screenings. If the cancer is caught in its early stages it can be treated. Early treatment has saved many lives and could even save yours. It's recommended that you get your first screening when you reach fifty years of age and your health care professional will determine when your next visit should take place. Healthy, low risk patients normally have this exam every ten years.

Stay as active as you can because studies show that taking part in a variety of activities will reduce your risk of getting this disease. It's recommended that you have a regular exercise routine and participate in hobbies and sports when possible.

Lower your intake of red meat and processed meat. This doesn't mean that you can't enjoy a good steak every once in a while or that you can never eat any of these foods. It simply means that you shouldn't eat them at every meal.

Watch your weight. The risk for this type of cancer is higher in men who are overweight regardless of their age. In women studies show that being overweight in the pre-menopausal years puts you at higher risk than gaining weight after menopause has begun. Therefore, you can reduce your risk of colon cancer by eating healthy nutritious meals and exercising regularly.

Studies show that calcium and vitamin D can help to reduce your risk of getting this type of cancer but talk to your health care provider before taking supplements . Men should not have an excessive amount of calcium because it could increase their risk of prostate cancer.

Misconceptions

Be aware that there are a number of misconceptions about reducing colorectal cancer risk.

For example, many people believe that eating a lot of fiber would lower their risk, but studies have not borne this out. However, studies have shown that eating whole grains may be helpful. This was not due to the amount of dietary fiber they contain, but rather to some of the other ingredients in them.

Hormone therapy can lower the risk of getting cancer of the colon but it can also increase the risk of women having breast cancer and heart disease. Therefore, it's not recommended.

A person can have colon cancer for several years and not have any symptoms at all. It's a slow growing cancer that takes time to cause problems. When you do begin to have symptoms they can be so general that it can be hard to make the connection. These symptoms include but are not limited to diarrhea and/or constipation, fatigue, change in bowel habits, abdominal pain, cramps, weight loss, bloating and blood found in the stool. Other medical conditions can have the same symptoms as this disease. As a result, if you have any of these symptoms it's advised that you see your health care provider as soon as possible.

The bottom line is that a healthy lifestyle of eating good nutritious meals and exercising regularly, combined with screenings when needed, can help you lower your risk for colon cancer. Considering this is a serious disease that can be fatal in some cases, it's recommended that you do your part to stay healthy. If your doctor finds signs of this medical condition, you can be treated and in many cases the treatments are completely successful.

For more information on topics related to this article, click on Colon Cancer Prevention.