Preventing Colon Cancer
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States for both men and women. When caught early, the five-year survival rate is 91 percent. However, if not caught before spreading locally, the five year survival rate drops to 60 percent. And if not caught before further spreading, the five-year survival rate plummets to only 6 percent.
So with that said we present some colon cancer prevention tips:
Go to a doctor if you have any colon cancer symptoms. Colon cancer can grow for years before showing anything out of the ordinary. So knowing what to look for is an important part of any colon cancer prevention plan.
For those over 50, schedule a colorectal cancer screening. Then keep the appointment. At least 90% of people diagnosed with colon cancer are 50 or older with the average age of diagnosis being 64. Research indicates that by age 50, one in four people has polyps which are colon cancer precursors. Getting screened is an excellent colon cancer prevention method.
Begin eating a balanced diet. If your goal is colon cancer prevention, a balanced diet seems to be the way to go.
Maintain a healthy weight. Do you weigh more than you are comfortable with? Everyone has different reasons for wanting to lose weight so now you can add colon cancer prevention as another.
Maintain an active lifestyle. We all know we're supposed to exercise and be more active. It makes us feel better, aids in colon cancer prevention, and so much more. Exercise doesn't have to be boring. It doesn't have to be a chore forced upon us for our own good.
Talk to your doctor about your personal medical history. As you may have guessed, discussing your own medical history is extremely important when it comes to colon cancer prevention. Sometimes we feel like doctors aren't interested in what we have to say; we try to answer their questions as quickly and succinctly as possible. But it's alright, and advisable to talk about your health history. Of particular concern are polyps, certain cancers, and chronic inflammation of the bowel--all of which can increase the risk of developing colorectal cancer.
Don't smoke. That's one you've never heard before, right? It keeps popping up, but there's a reason: it's just horrible for you. If you're serious about colon cancer prevention, you'll have to get serious about smoking cessation.
Reduce radiation exposure. Is radiation really relevant to colon cancer prevention? The short answer is yes.