Ways to Prevent Colon Cancer

Colon cancer affects millions of people every year, killing 650,000 of them.  The interesting thing about this is that it is often a very easy disease to prevent.  Here are some of the ways that it can be prevented.

  1. Get screened.  If you are over 50 years old, there is a greater risk of getting colon cancer. Getting a colonoscopy can reduce the chances of contracting the disease and help prevent it from spreading if it has already started.
  2. Eat healthy.  A balanced diet that is low in fat and cholesterol, as well as high in fibre, can greatly reduce the risks of getting colon cancer.  Simply staying thin while eating unhealthy meals is not enough.
  3. Keep a healthy weight.  Some studies have shown that extra fat in the waist can increase colon cancer risk, moreso for obese men than obese women.
  4. Stay active.  Living a healthy lifestyle can reduce the risks of getting cancer by up to 40 percent. It can also reduce other risk factors like obesity and diabetes, as well as many other diseases.
  5. Don't smoke.  Smoking has been found as the cause for up to 12 percent of the fatal cases of colon cancer.  Smoke gets transported to the colon, taking with it toxins and carcinogens that are not healthy for the body.  Smoking also increases tumor size.
  6. Find out your family medical history.  As innocent as it seems, knowing your family medical history can be very helpful for colon cancer prevention.  Discussing any colon cancer-related issues with a doctor is very important.  It may also be worth mentioning about other cancers.
  7. Do a colon cleanse.  Cleansing your colon can help remove any toxins and waste that has built up in your colon over time.  This is helpful for preventing cancer, but can also be effective in reducing weight and increasing energy levels.

Colon cancer is not always preventable.  The good news is that if it does occur and is diagnosed early, it is most often treatable.  Knowing early can prevent the disease from being fatal.  That is why it is so important to find out your family medical history and get screened if you are at risk, as well as living healthy.  It can save your life.