Colon Cancerreducing Your Risk - Chapter 7 Colon Cancer Whos At Risk: Cancer

Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School

Colon cancer-Reducing your risk

Here's where you can take control.

Red meat consumption. If you have more than one serving of red meat (beef, pork, veal, lamb, or venison) per day, you are at increased risk for colon cancer. Meat appears to contain substances that can turn normal cells cancerous. The best way to eat less red meat per week is to find substitutes: chicken, fish, pasta, or vegetables.

Weight. If you are overweight, your risk for colon cancer increases, possibly because your body produces insulin-like growth factors that promote cell proliferation. Women who maintain a healthful weight also have a lower risk for breast and uterine cancers. To maintain a healthful weight, work from two directions, reducing your total calorie intake and increasing your level of physical activity.

Alcohol consumption. If you drink more than one glass of alcohol a day, you increase your risk for colon cancer. Alcohol appears to inhibit the effects of folic acid, which protects cells. So drinking too much can counteract this beneficial effect, leaving cells more open to damage.

Exercise. If you exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, you can reduce your risk for colon cancer. You don't have to go to a gym to enjoy the benefits of exercise; even moderate physical activity, such as taking a brisk walk, offers protection. Regular physical exercise can reduce your risk of developing colon cancer by as much as 50%.

Women who have taken birth control pills or estrogen-only postmenopausal hormone therapy for five years or more have a lower risk colon cancer. However, these therapies are not recommended for colon cancer prevention - the risks do not outweigh the benefits.

Last updated:	May 01, 2008