Kick Colon Cancer’s Butt!

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.  Did you know that colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States? The irony is that is it also the one of the most preventable cancers.  Reduce your risk of colorectal cancer by getting screened, knowing your risk factors and having a healthy lifestyle. 

Get Screened!

Colonoscopies are not anyone’s favorite thing to do but if you’re fifty years or older it should be at the top of your to-do list.  One of the central reasons why colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death is because it is not detected early enough.  A colonoscopy every 10 years starting at age 50 (45 years old for African Americans) is recommended.

Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) is a newer colon cancer detection test.  It detects hidden blood in stool and if the test is positive a colonoscopy is preformed.

Although these screenings may sound less than pleasant, they are preferred colorectal cancer detection tests.  Early detection increases the chance of survival!  Discuss with our doctor which test is right for you.

Know your risk factors then reduce your risk! 

Age is a risk factor of colon cancer.  Ninety-three percent of cases occur in those who are 50 years of age or older.  Hence why screenings are recommended at age 50 if one does not have any other risk factors.

Colon cancer does not discriminate against genders.  Although men often get this cancer at an earlier age, women tend to live longer and develop it later in life.  Therefore the total number of cases in women and men are equal.

Although it is one of the most preventable types of cancer, genetics does play a role in its development.  Anyone with two or more first-degree relatives with colon cancer, or any first-degree relative diagnosed under sixty-years of age, is at a 3-6 times higher risk than the general population.  A person with a first-degree relative diagnosed at 60 years or older has two times greater of a risk for colon cancer than the general population.

Prevention is key!

Maintaining a normal body weight by consuming a high fiber (fruits and vegetables), low fat meals with regular exercise can help reduce the risk of colon cancer and other chronic diseases.

One of the newest topics in nutrition research happens to be very relevant for Colon Cancer Awareness Month and that is Resistant Starches.  As the name would have you think, these are starches, found in legumes like peas and beans, cooked and cooled starch products like pasta salad and green bananas, which are indigestible in the body.  Resistant starches pass through the small intestine into the large intestine where they are fermented by intestinal bacteria releasing compounds that are beneficial for the cells of the colon.

Research has shown that the benefit of resistant starch is seen with a consumption of 10-20 grams per day.  Currently, it is estimated that Americans are consuming 3-6 servings per day.  To increase your intake, include cooked and cooled starches such as potatoes and pasta to several meals each week.

While practicing any of these prevention measures will certainly help keep you on the right track to a healthy colon, they are not a replacement for regular screenings.  Combine prevention techniques along with your screenings and you will be in good shape to prevent problems down the road.  Educate those in your life who have risk factors for colon cancer this month to celebrate Colon Cancer Awareness and help stop the disease before it starts!

What will you do this month to keep your colon healthy?

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