Colorectal Cancer Prevention
“To reduce your risk of colorectal cancer, look at your lifestyle,” advises Judy Smith, MD, FACS, Medical Director of Roswell Park. “Adopting a healthy lifestyle is one of the best ways to reduce your risk of cancer and many other diseases as well, including cardiovascular disease.” Get the edge by following these tips:
- Don’t use any tobacco products, and if you smoke, quit now. Smoking has been linked to as many as one in five cases of colorectal cancer. Find the support and guidance you need by calling the New York State Smokers’ Quitline at Roswell Park, at 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487), or visit www.nysmokefree.com for more information.
- Limit your intake of alcohol.
- Eat a high-fiber diet and reduce your consumption of fats and red meat. “We know that a Western diet—high in fat and red meat—correlates with colon cancer,” notes Dr. Bullard Dunn. That doesn’t mean you can’t have a cheeseburger once in a while, she adds, but do limit your intake of red and processed meats (such as pepperoni and packaged luncheon meats), and fill up on fruits and vegetables.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Exercise regularly.
The fats/red meats connection: What’s the beef?
Research suggests that a diet high in red meat and fatty foods can increase your risk of colon cancer. The link may explain why Americans, who tend to eat a lot of meat and high-fat foods, have higher rates of colon cancer than people in countries that consume less red meat and fat.
