Five simple lifestyle changes could substantially decrease the incidence of colon cancer, reports a study published in the May issue of the European Journal of Cancer Prevention. Researchers studied how recommended lifestyle changes could affect predicted colon cancer rates of the British population over the next 24 years. The study estimates that 31.5% of colon cancers in British men and 18.4% of colon cancers in British women could be prevented if individuals made changes in diet, exercise, alcohol consumption and weight control.

The five recommended lifestyle changes are:

• Limit consumption of red meat and processed meat to no more than 3 ounces per day
• Eat at least five portions of fruits, vegetables and fiber per day
• Exercise 30 minutes per day, five or more days each week
• Consume less than three alcoholic beverages per day for men, two per day for women
• Control weight to help reduce the total U.K. population’s weight distribution to the rates of 20 years ago

Identified risk factors for colon cancer include:

• Being 50 or older
• Having a personal or family history of colon cancer or colon polyps
• Having ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease
• Smoking cigarettes
• Being overweight or obese

Like in the United States, colon cancer is extremely prevalent in the United Kingdom. It is the nation’s third most common newly-diagnosed cancer, and is second in terms of cancer deaths. Colon cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the United States, and is also the second cause of cancer deaths in the U.S.

Sharon Osbourne, British-borne judge of American Idol and wife of rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, was diagnosed with colon cancer in July 2002. Following the surgical removal of the cancer, Osbourne underwent chemotherapy to reduce the likelihood of its recurrence. She has since recovered and returned to her TV career.

United States President Ronald Reagan also famously battled colon cancer. On July 13, 1985, the President had surgery to remove roughly two feet of his colon after a colonoscopy revealed a cancerous tumor. On January 17, 1986, President Reagan again went under the knife, this time to remove colon polyps. He died in June of 2005, at 93, of unrelated causes.

Colonoscopy is the best detector of colon cancer and also aids in prevention. All people 50 and older should have a colonoscopy once every five years. People with a family history of colon cancer should begin having colonoscopies at 45. Diet, exercise and other lifestyle factors also greatly impact colon cancer risk.

Join the Healia Colorectal Cancer Online Health Community and Support Group to share your experiences or to offer tips and advice.

Source:

The European Journal of Cancer Prevention. Volume 19, Issue 3. http://journals.lww.com/eurjcancerprev/Abstract/publishahead/The_potential_for_prevention_of_colorectal_cancer.99995.aspx

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