7 Lifestyle Tweaks to Lower Your Risk of Colon Cancer
In this video, learn how certain lifestyle habits affect your risk of developing colon cancer—and what you can do about it.
Living a healthy lifestyle — which includes exercising regularly, eating a nutritious diet, and getting enough sleep — is the cornerstone of good health. Living healthfully not only helps with weight maintenance, mood, and energy, but it can also lower your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Colon cancer, in particular, is strongly linked to lifestyle habits — more so than other cancer forms, according to the American Cancer Society. It’s also the third most common type of cancer in both men and women.
Colon cancer, also called colorectal cancer, is a cancer that starts in the colon or the rectum (sometimes called rectal cancer). Colon cancer often develops from a polyp, which is a small growth that forms on the inner lining of organs. While there are some colon cancer risk factors you can’t control like your family history, ethnic background, or age (it’s more common in people over 50, although young folks can get it to), there are many lifestyle factors you can change.
References
American Cancer Society. (2020). Alcohol use and cancer.
American Cancer Society. (2023). Colorectal cancer risk factors.
American Cancer Society. (2023). Key statistics for colorectal cancer.
American Cancer Society. (2021). Six ways to lower your risk for colon cancer.
Durko, L., et al. (2014). Lifestyle modifications and colorectal cancer. Current Colorectal Cancer Reports.
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (n.d.). World Health Organization says processed meat causes cancer.
National Cancer Institute. (2015). Chronic inflammation.