Healthy Choices Make For A Healthy Colon

Main Category: Colorectal Cancer
Also Included In: Public Health;  Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 04 Mar 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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As part of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March, experts at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center encourage people to make healthy choices to reduce their risks of developing colorectal cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer incidence and death in men and women with more than 153,000 new cases and more than 52,000 deaths expected in 2007.

Two important choices anyone can make to reduce their risks of developing colorectal cancer include maintaining a healthy diet and following recommended screening guidelines.

Studies have found that a diet high in red or processed meat and low in fruits and vegetables increases a person's risks for developing colorectal cancer. In addition, men and women who are overweight are more likely to develop and die from colorectal cancer.

M. D. Anderson recommends the following:

-- Eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day.
-- Limit fat intake to no more than 30 percent of your total daily calories.
-- Exercise regularly.
-- Maintain an ideal weight.

Because of an increase in colorectal screenings over the past years, new colorectal cancer cases have been decreasing. Regular screening can detect and remove colorectal polyps (an abnormal growth in the lining of the bowel) before they progress to cancer.

For men and women age 50 and over, M. D. Anderson recommends following ONE of the five screening exams below.

-- Colonoscopy Every 10 years (preferred by M. D. Anderson).
-- Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) Every year a take-home multiple sample FOBT or fecal immunochemical test (FIT, which also is a take-home test) should be taken.
-- Flexible sigmoidoscopy Every five years.
-- Annual FOBT or FIT and flexible sigmoidoscopy Every five years. Having both of these tests is recommended over either test alone.
-- Double-contrast barium enema Every five years.
-- All positive tests (FOBT, FIT, flexible sigmoidoscopy, barium enema) should be followed up with colonoscopy.

Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption are two additional healthy behaviors recommended by M. D. Anderson to reduce a person's risks of developing colorectal cancer.

For more information on cancer prevention strategies, visit http://www.mdanderson.org/cancerawareness.

University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Blvd., Box 229
Houston, TX 77030
United States
http://www.mdanderson.org

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