Six Ways to Lower Your Risk for Colon Cancer

By Stacy Simon Colon cancer is one of the more common cancers in the US. About 1 in 20 Americans will develop colon cancer at some point during their lifetime. But there are things you can do to help lower your colon cancer risk. Here are 6 ways to help protect your colon health. Get screened for colon cancer. Screenings are tests that look for cancer before signs and symptoms develop. Colon screenings can often find growths called polyps that can be removed before they turn into cancer. These tests also can find colon cancer earlier, when treatments are more likely to be successful. The American Cancer Society recommends testing starting at age 50 for most people; talk to your doctor about when you should start and which tests might be right for you. RESOURCES: How the American Cancer Society Fights Colon CancerColon Cancer Stories of HopeAmerican Cancer Society screening guidelinesMore information about colon cancer Eat lots of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Diets that include lots of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains have been linked with a decreased risk of colon cancer. Eat less red meat (beef, pork, or lamb) and processed meats (hot dogs and some luncheon meats), which have been linked with an increased risk of colon cancer. Get regular exercise. If you are not physically active, you have a greater chance of developing colon cancer. Increasing your activity may help reduce your risk. Learn more about how to meet diet and exercise goa...
Source: American Cancer Society :: News and Features - Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Colon/Rectum Cancer Source Type: news