Colon cancer, also known as colo-rectal cancer, is one of the most deadly cancers, with the smallest number of recovery and success stories. Lifestyle and family history are the two main factors which will decide whether you are at risk of contracting colon cancer. Whether you smoke or drink heavily will weigh heavily on whether you fall into a risk group. If you have a family history of cancer, you should be very careful with your drinking and not smoke. A family history of cancer also means that you should watch your weight and diet very carefully. If you’re overweight, studies show that you’re much more likely to contract colon cancer than someone who is at or just above her optimal weight.
The colon is the last part of the human digestive tract where solid waste is stored prior to excretion. The rectum lies at the end of the colon, right before the anal sphincter. This is why colon cancer is sometimes referred to as colo-rectal cancer.
Fruits and Vegetables
People who are significantly overweight or obese typically have a diet that lacks fruits and vegetables. Foods that are high in dietary fibers and essential vitamins and nutrients help keep you free of carcinogens and adenomatous polyps, which have been shown to be present in the vast majority of colon cancer cases. In fact, almost every case of colo-rectal cancer is preceded by the formation of polyps. Carcinogens are cancer causing agents or chemicals in the body. Adenomatous polyps are growths on the inner lining of the colon.
Fat Content of Foods
Studies show that people who are obese or extremely overweight don’t eat or prepare foods that are healthy. This is most likely because healthy foods usually tend to take a little longer to prepare and don’t always taste as good as unhealthy foods. Studies have shown that in cultures where dietary fat intake is extremely high, the number of cases of colo-rectal cancer is also disproportionately high. Lowering the overall fat content of your diet will significantly decrease your risk of colon cancer.
Low Fiber Diets
Dietary fiber is a required portion of a healthy diet that is normally lacking from the dietary habits of people that are significantly overweight. Fiber digests slower and helps cleanse the digestive system of harmful chemicals, including carcinogens. If you feel that you are in a high risk group for colon cancer, you should make sure that your diet contains a high amount of dietary fiber.
Cholesterol is known by many in the medical community to be the silent killer. Cholesterol is known to cause the following conditions: hardening of the arteries, arterial blockages and heart disease. Colo-rectal cancer is another of the health problems attributable to cholesterol. Medical science believes that chemicals left over from the metabolism of cholesterol may have carcinogenic factors.