The Risks
Risk Factors
These are the primary risk factors associated with colon cancer. If you fall into any of these groups, you should talk to your doctor about getting screened.
- • Being age 50 or older. More than 90% of colon cancers develop in people 50 and older.
- • A parent or sibling had colon polyps, colon cancer, or (possibly) other cancers. If you belong to this group, get tested before age 50. An important thing to note, however, is that most people with colon cancer have no family history of the disease.
- • Smoking. Smokers are 30-40% more likely than non-smokers to die of colon cancer; quitting smoking reduces the risk.
- • Typical "Western" diet (refined sugar and flour, high-fat from red meat, low-fiber).
- • Inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease).
- • African-American or Eastern European Jewish (Ashkenazi) ancestry.
- • Excessive alcohol intake.
- • Sedentary lifestyle.
- • Being overweight.
Steps You Can Take to Reduce Colon Cancer Risk
- • Maintain a healthy weight. Body Mass Index (BMI), a measure of body weight, should be kept under 25.
- A woman 5'4" tall would be overweight at 146 lbs. or more.
- A man 5'10" tall would be overweight at 175 lbs. or more.
- • Exercise regularly. Get at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity on most if not all days.
- • Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. They're full of vitamins and minerals, including folic acid (folate), a B-vitamin that may help prevent cancer.
- • Eat a diet rich in fiber from high fiber cereals and dark breads like wheat, rye and pumpernickel.
- • Eat foods containing vitamin-D. Vitamin-D is found in fortified milk, fish oils and egg yolk. One cup of vitamin-D fortified milk supplies one-quarter of the daily need for this vitamin in adults.
Additionally, the following may reduce the risk of colon cancer:
- • Take a daily multivitamin with folate.
- • Watch alcohol intake. While moderate amounts (about one drink a day) can provide some health benefits, too much can raise the risk of colon cancer and other diseases.
- • Ask a doctor about benefits and risks of daily 81-mg ("adult low dose") aspirin tablets. Aspirin may prevent growth of colon polyps, and can lower the risk of colon cancer and heart attack. However, aspirin also can raise the risk of stroke or internal bleeding.
