4 Ways to Fight the Risk of Colon Cancer

There is a plague attacking our country and we need to put an end to it. Colon and rectal cancers are the third most common cancer in America and a study recently released by the Journal of the American Medical Association warns it is no longer just a threat to the elderly.

There has been a significant increase in the incident of colon and rectal cancers (CRC) in young adults between the ages of 20-35 as well as adults between the ages of 35-50. According to this same study nearly 1 in every 20 American adults will be diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer in their lifetime.

This is very alarming.

The good news is this: colon and rectal cancer can be prevented. Seventy-five percent of those diagnosis’ are avoidable and it all comes down to making the right choices.

Here are 4 simple life choices you can make to dramatically reduce your risk of developing colon and rectal cancer:

1. Get Screened Routinely

Don’t rely on your doctor to tell you what to do, your health is in your hands and nobody else’s. The biggest misconception about cancer is that you doctor will find it at your yearly check up. Colon and rectal cancers can go unchecked unless properly screened for and many assume because they fall within a certain demographic that they don’t need to be mindful of their risks.

Blood in the stool can be the first sign of a problem and often is not visible to the eye. Polyps can develop in the colon for a number of reasons and can increase the risk of cancer. Be sure to have a discussion with your doctor and take the proper tests routinely because early detection can save your life.

2. Don’t Smoke:

If the risk of strokes, heart disease, and emphysema wasn’t reason enough to quit this toxic habit, your increased risk of cancer should. Long term cigarette smoking has been found to increase the risk of colorectal cancer by upwards of 50% for life long addicts. The good news is you can drastically reverse those chances by quitting.

3. Don’t Drink:

This is one of those grey area recommendations. Although some alcohols are known to be heart healthy in moderation, like red wine, alcohol can increase the risk of colon and rectal cancers even at low levels. If you are a drinker, it is wise to moderate your intake. For women this means one drink a day maximum and up to two drinks for men. If you don’t drink, there is no reason to start. There are heart healthy foods much better than wine which you can incorporate into your diet instead.

4. Maintain Healthy Weight:

Obesity could be blamed for the spike in colorectal cancer in America and is one of the leading causes for many types of cancer. Increased fat content in the digestive tract can lead to buildup and polyps in the colon which are the first signs of danger. Keeping physically active is not only great for cardiovascular health, it can help you keep pounds off and reduce fat in the body. A rule of thumb that many health professionals recommend is to strive for the weight you were at age 18.