Colon cancer - Prevention

Eat a low fat, high fiber diet: Studies suggest that diets high in fat, protein, calories, alcohol, and meat and low in calcium and folate increase your risk of colon cancer. It appears the mechanism is related to bile from the gallbladder. After a high protein or fat meal bile is released which can become toxic to the bowel.

Take calcium: It is speculated that the effect of calcium is from binding bile acids and fatty acids thus reducing the exposure of these toxins to the colon.

Be physically active: A sedentary lifestyle has been correlated with an increased risk of colon cancer in some studies. The average risk reduction is reported to be about 40% to 50%. Apparently, as little as 2 hours per week is sufficient to lower your risks.

Use aspirin: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin prevent the formation of polyps and even cause the regression of such polyps. One study by the American Cancer Society showed a 40% reduction in mortality in regular aspirin users.

Stop smoking: Cigarette smoke increases the tendency to form polyps and for those polyps to develop into colorectal cancer. It is estimated that 12% of colorectal cancer deaths in the U.S. population in 1997 can be directly attributed to cigarettes. Other studies show a 50% to 70% increased risk of colon cancer in current smokers.

Avoid alcohol: Although weak, it appears that there is some correlation between alcohol use and large bowel cancer.

Take vitamins: Vitamin E, vitamin D and folate all appear to be protective against colorectal cancer.

Hormone use: Postmenopausal female hormone use is associated with a reduction of colon, but not rectal, cancer.

Preventive Screening: screening to detect polyps and cancer early is still the best prevention. Just by having a stool occult blood test annually has been shown to reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer by 20%.