How to Prevent Colorectal Cancer

About 1 in every 20 people in the UK will develop colon or rectal cancer during their lifetime. It is the third most common cancer in the UK, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths, with over 16,000 people dying from it each year. However, there are a number of ways to help to prevent this cancer, including diet and lifestyle changes and regular screenings.

Screening

A new NHS bowel cancer screening programme was introduced in April 2006, to be rolled out across the country over the next 3 years. This programme offers automatic screening every two years to all men and women aged 60 to 69, and is available by request by anyone over the age of 70. Regular screening can help to identify polyps at an early stage, before they have a chance to turn into cancer.

Diet and Lifestyle Changes

Eating a healthy, balanced diet including plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables can help to reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Fruit and veg provide the body with vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants, all of which can help to protect against all types of cancer. At least 5 portions should be eaten every day.

Fibre-filled foods such as wholemeal bread and rice, and whole grain cereals can also help; recent studies suggest that if people with a low level of fibre in their diet were to double their intake, they could reduce the risk of bowel cancer by 40%.

High-fat diets are though to increase the risk of colorectal cancer; limiting the amount of red meat (such as beef, pork and lamb) to around one or two portions a week can help to reduce the intake of saturated fats, as can restricting the amount of foods such as cheese, ice cream, and coconut and palm oils.

Calcium, magnesium, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) and folates are though to help reduce the risk of bowel cancer; these may be found in foods such as:

• Calcium: milk, shrimp, sardines (with the bones) and tofu
• Magnesium: leafy greens, nuts, peas and beans
• Vitamin B6: spinach, grains, peas, legumes, carrots, dairy foods and meat
• Folates: bananas, melons, orange juice, spinach, lettuce, legumes and broccoli

Consuming more than a unit of alcohol a day for women and two for men can increase the risk of colon cancer, particularly for those who have a close relative with the disease.

Smoking not only increases the risk of colorectal cancer, but also of other cancers.

Staying physically active can help to cut the risk of colon cancer risk in half. Exercise stimulates movement through the bowel and so reduces the time the colon is exposed to harmful substances that may cause cancer.