Colorectal cancer, or colon cancer, occurs within the colon or rectum. This disease affects men and women and is most often found in adults at the age of 50 or more. Colorectal cancer has taken over 50,000 lives each year – making it the second leading cause of cancer death and the third most common cancer in the US.
Most colorectal cancer cases begin as small clumps of cells called adenomatous polyps. Over time, polyps may become colorectal cancer. Therefore, most doctors recommend receiving regular screening tests, at the age of 50 or more, to remove any polyps before they lead to cancer.
So how does colorectal cancer occur? According to the American Cancer Society, here are known factors that increase the risk colorectal cancer:
Personal or family history
Physical inactivity
Obesity
High consumption of red and/or processed meats
Smoking
Moderate-to-heavy alcohol consumption
There are many known factors that can increase the risk of colorectal cancer; however, there are also factors that can decrease it as well.
Here are 4 important ways to lower your risk of colorectal cancer:
Regular Colonoscopy Visits
A colonoscopy is a procedure that allows the examination of the entire colon and rectum. Before proceeding with a colonoscopy, patients must cleanse the colon with special laxative agents. These screenings look for cancer before signs and symptoms develop. Studies show that a colonoscopy is the most sensitive method for the detection of colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
Maintaining a healthy diet involves understanding which foods are better for your body. Here are foods that increase and decrease the risk of colorectal cancer:
Eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. It’s been proven that these healthy foods reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.
Reduce eating red meats and processed meats. Red meats include beef, pork, or lamb, and processed meats include hot dogs or luncheon meats. These foods have been proved to increase the risk of colorectal cancer.
Reduce Any Bad Habits
Bad habits eventually become addictions, which only increases the risk of harming your body. These bad habits include smoking, drinking alcohol, and not watching your weight. Here’s what you should know:
Quit smoking. Long-term smokers have a higher risk colorectal cancer than those who don’t smoke. If you wish to quit, or you know someone who needs to, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345. Receiving help from others increases your chance of quitting.
Limit your alcohol consumption. People who drink an average of 2 to 4 alcoholic beverages per day has a 23% higher risk of colorectal cancer.
Watch your weight. Obesity increases the risk of colorectal cancer mostly in men. A physically active lifestyle is important in reducing such risks.
Regular Exercise
When it comes to colorectal cancer, individuals who exercise regularly are more likely to remain cancer free. By strength training at least two times a week, the body is able to maintain a level of health that allows for improved circulation, the reduction of free radicals, and a digestive tract that functions more efficiently. Even walking or swimming can have an impact on a person"s ability to remain cancer-free for several years.
Regular exercise strengthens your entire body. The increased circulation helps to eliminate toxins and contaminants that can have a direct impact on the health of the colon. Vigorous exercise also increases the lungs" capacity to utilize oxygen at a much higher volume. Increasing the amount of oxygen available to the cells of the body also increases the body"s ability to fight disease, including colorectal and other types of cancer.
As always, it’s important to receive regular checkups to reduce your risk of colorectal cancer. Schedule an appointment or give us a call at one of our primary care centers. We have locations in Irvine, Fountain Valley and Costa Mesa, with physicians that are here to help.
Dr. Bunten is originally from Huntington Beach, CA. He attended high school in Tokyo, Japan, went to college at UC San Diego and then to medical school in the Midwest. He returned home to California for residency training in Family Medicine at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. His immediate family all reside in Huntington Beach.
Dr Fishbein has been in the practice of family medicine for over 35 years in Irvine. He received his undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University, medical degree from Chicago Medical School, and completed his family medicine residency at Memorial Hospital of Long Beach.
Dr. Kim is the Medical Director of Family Care Centers, Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at Hoag Hospital, and a recipient of the Physicians of Excellence award from the Orange County Medical Association. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine, and has been practicing in our community for over 20 years.
Dr. Memon is a board certified Family Medicine physician and recently completed her fellowship in Geriatrics at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center. She attended Saint George’s University, School of Medicine and completed her residency at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. Her interest in medicine started at an early age and has since evolved into a passionate career.
Dr. Gina Nguyen obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at UC Irvine where she graduated Suma Cum Laude. She went to USC Keck School of Medicine, and returned to UC Irvine for a Family Medicine Residency. Since 2005, she worked at Kaiser Permanente, VNCOC, and Family Care Center Urgent Care.
Dr. Williams is Board Certified in Family Medicine and Sports Medicine. He is a native to Orange County and returned home after completing his medical degree at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. After completing his residency in family practice he successfully completed a fellowship in sports medicine.
Dr. Hye Lee is a board-certified Family Practice Physician, affiliated with the American Osteopathic Association and the American College of Osteopathic Family Practice.She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at UC Riverside and earned her medical degree from Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center. Afterward, she did her internship at Downey Regional Medical Center in California and has been a primary care physician since 2005.
Dr. Coyne is a board certified family practice physician and a California native. He completed his undergraduate degree at UCLA before earning his medical degree at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Dr Coyne spent 6 years in the US Air Force at Andrews and Luke Air Force bases, eventually separating as a Major. He enjoys working with patients of all ages.”
Dr. Jay Friehling is a Family Practice physician who has worked in Orange County since 1981. Born in Florida, he received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and then earned a Medical Degree at the New York Medical College.” His healthcare interests include Diabetes, Geriatric Care, and Hospice Care.
Dr. Jennifer Shoquist is board certified in Family Medicine. Her special interest is woman’s health and her practice accepts patients from 6 years old to seniors. Dr. Shoquist received her M.D. degree at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston in Houston, Texas, and did her residency with Memorial Family Practice at memorial Southwest Hospital in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Tom is a board certified family medicine physician and native Californian. He received his bachelors of science with great distinction in biochemistry and honors in chemistry. Dr. Tom was awarded a Regents Scholarship to attend medical school at UC Irvine.
Dr. Yan attended Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her Family Practice residency at Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, California. She joined Family Care Center in 2001. She chose Family Practice because she enjoys working with a wide variety of people and because it provides a unique opportunity for continuing care.
Share Your Valuable Thought