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“Colon cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosis for men and women,” said Sara Chasteen, PA, Baptist Health Medical Gastroenterology in Richmond, “There are some steps you can take to improve your overall health and reduce your risk for colon cancer.”
Take action by incorporating these prevention tactics into your life:
- Maintain a healthy body weight. Try to exercise at a moderate intensity for at least 30 minutes a day most days of the week.
- Eat a healthy diet. Try to maintain a diet that’s rich in lean meats and fish, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and low in saturated fats and red meat.
- Avoid alcohol.
- Stop smoking. Ask your doctor about what you can do to make it easier for you to quit.
- Get screened for other cancers. Based on your age, gender, and risk level, your doctor will tell you what cancer screening tests would be best for you. If you’d like to learn more about your risks for colon cancer, take a Health Risk Assessment today.
- Ask your doctor about other tests. Getting other recommended health care appropriate for your age and gender, such as blood pressure screening, hepatitis C screening, and immunizations is beneficial for your overall health.
- Stay up to date on screenings.
“Make early detection a priority by getting a screening colonoscopy starting at age 45. Continue screenings every 10 years, or sooner, depending on your risk factors and results,” Chasteen said.
Colonoscopies are best for most people rather than any stool testing. This is because colonoscopies are both preventative and a screening tool. During the procedure, polyps are removed to prevent the progression to colon cancer.
There are several risk factors for colon cancer that you might not be aware of, including:
- Family history of colon cancer or adenomatous polyps
- Obesity
- Physical inactivity
- Diet high in red meat and processed meats
- Cooking meats at high temperatures, so they are well-done including fried and barbeque meats.
- Low Vitamin D levels
- Smoking
- Heavy alcohol use
- Age >50
- Personal history of colorectal polyps, colorectal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease
- Being of African American or Ashkenazi Jewish descent
- Having Type 2 diabetes
- Identify your risk factors.
The risk of colorectal cancer increases dramatically with age. Take our colorectal cancer risk at Cancer Health Risk Assessments | Baptist Health.
More questions about colon cancer?
Schedule an appointment with a Baptist Health Richmond provider at BaptistHealth.com/Richmond to learn what screenings are right for you.
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