Can Colon Cancer Be Prevented?

Colon cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers among both men and women. Unfortunately, like many gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, people often have few symptoms until the cancer is more advanced and they may experience abdominal pain, aches or cramps. 

The good news is there are lifestyle changes that you can make now to help reduce your risk for colon cancer. Overall, the most effective way to reduce your risk of colorectal cancer is to get screened routinely, beginning at age 45.

Colon and Other GI Cancers

Your digestive tract runs from your mouth to your anus, and gastrointestinal cancers can occur in any part of this system. They include cancers of the colon, rectum, stomach, esophagus, pancreas, liver, and small intestine, and can act in unpredictable ways. The American Cancer Society says nearly 290,000 cancers of the digestive system are diagnosed each year, the second highest group of cancers. 

7 Steps to Help Prevent Digestive Cancers

Research shows that diet and healthy lifestyle choices can make a difference when it comes to preventing colon cancer and other gastrointestinal cancers. Here are some positive steps to get you started.

1. Eat a diet high in fruits, vegetable and whole grains

Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, which contain vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants. A high intake of green vegetables is associated with a reduced risk of bowel cancer, while a high vitamin C intake is associated with a reduced risk of stomach cancer.

2. Avoid certain meats

Avoid red, salted/processed, and burned meats which have been linked to bowel and stomach cancer.

3. Exercise regularly

Aim for 30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week. If you’re just starting, check with your doctor and start slowly before building up to 30 minutes. A sedentary lifestyle puts you at risk for several cancers.

4. Maintain a healthy weight

If you’re obese, try to get your weight to a healthy level and work to maintain that level. Lose weight slowly by reducing your calories and increasing your exercise. Being obese is a risk factor in many cancers. In fact, obesity increases your risk of getting—and dying from—colon cancer when compared with people of normal weight. Check out the Healthy Weight Management and Bariatric Surgery services at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health.

5. Don't smoke

If you smoke, seek help for ways to quit. Smoking does not just cause lung cancer. It is linked to cancers of the colon, pancreas, pharynx (throat), esophagus (swallowing tube), and stomach.

6. Drink alcohol in moderation

Alcohol should be consumed in moderation—no more than a drink a day for women and two for men. Heavy use of alcohol is associated with an increased risk of cancers of the esophagus, pancreas, liver, and colon.

7. Get screened for colon cancer 

And finally, if you’re 45 or older, schedule a colonoscopy--a screening test that checks for polyps before they turn into colon cancer. The procedure is painless and covered by insurance. If results are normal, it is generally recommended you be tested every 10 years.

The FIT Test and other home stool tests are noninvasive ways to detect the presence of red blood cells and DNA mutations that detect signs of cancer. This test is done in your home.

Learn more at LGHealth.org/Colon, or talk to your doctor about the screenings and lifestyle changes that are best for you.