Lack of regular physical activity. A diet low in fruit and vegetables. A low-fiber and high-fat diet, or a diet high in processed meats. Overweight and obesity.
Colorectal cancer can occur in young adults and teenagers, but the majority of colorectal cancers occur in people older than 50. For colon cancer, the average age at the time of diagnosis for men is 68 and for women is 72. For rectal cancer, it is age 63 for both men and women.
The 3 main symptoms of bowel cancer are blood in the stools (faeces), a change in bowel habit, such as more frequent, looser stools, and abdominal (tummy) pain.
According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, "Dietary legume consumption reduces the risk of colorectal cancer." Maintaining a nutritious diet. Eat a variety of plant-based foods. Make healthy food choices, like vegetables, whole grains, legumes (beans) and nuts.
Diets that include lots of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains have been linked with a decreased risk of colon or rectal cancer. Also, eat less red meat (beef, pork, or lamb) and processed meats (hot dogs and some luncheon meats), which have been linked with an increased risk of colorectal cancer.
"Cancer-fighting foods"
The list is usually topped with berries, broccoli, tomatoes, walnuts, grapes and other vegetables, fruits and nuts. "If you look at the typical foods that reduce cancer risk, it's pretty much all plant foods that contain phytochemicals," says Wohlford.
Colon cancer is typically slow-growing, starting as a benign polyp that eventually becomes malignant. This process may occur over many years without producing any symptoms. Once colon cancer has developed, it may still be years before it is detected.
On the contrary, in terms of stress frequency, daily stress was significantly associated with the risk of colon cancer only in women (HR: 0.23, 95%CI: 0.07–0.73), but no other significant associations were found for colon or rectal cancer in men.
Cancer of the colon is a highly treatable and often curable disease when localized to the bowel. Surgery is the primary form of treatment and results in cure in approximately 50% of patients. However, recurrence following surgery is a major problem and is often the ultimate cause of death.
Healthy Choices
Some studies suggest that people may reduce their risk of developing colorectal cancer by increasing physical activity, keeping a healthy weight, limiting alcohol consumption, and avoiding tobacco.
Colorectal cancer: Moderate to heavy alcohol consumption is associated with 1.2- to 1.5-fold increased risks of cancers of the colon and rectum compared with no alcohol consumption (4, 9, 14).
Recently, an interesting study published in JAMA Oncology looked at more than 1100 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer and concluded that “increased coffee consumption at the time of study enrollment was associated with lower risk of disease progression and death.
Colorful fruits – Most fruits are excellent sources of fiber, antioxidants and phytochemicals, all of which can reduce the risk of digestive issues and colon cancer. Some healthy and delicious choices include apples, berries, cantaloupes, mangoes, oranges and pears.
Coffee and tea are among the most commonly consumed beverages worldwide, and they have been hypothesized to decrease the risk of colon cancer (5,6). Polyphenols present in coffee and tea protect against colon tumor formation in animal studies, possibly through their antioxidant properties (5,6).
That's because the resistant starch in unripe bananas can reduce the risk of some cancers by more than 60 percent, according to a 20-year international study. The Colorectal Adenoma/Carcinoma Prevention Programme (CAPP2) study found that resistant starch reduces a range of cancers by over 60 percent.
This high fiber content can help you maintain a healthy digestive tract and even lower your risk of colon cancer. Fiber also affords your body natural detoxification by promoting regular bowel movements, and can benefit the immune system (and overall health) by promoting a healthy gut microbiome.
Pantel says, “you should get checked out if you have rectal bleeding, if you have any change in your bowel habits, any change in appetite (like feeling “full” early), weight loss, or abdominal pain that is not explained.” Your symptoms may be different than those of someone you know who had colorectal cancer.
When it's time to do your bowel cancer screening test you'll get a kit through the post. It can spot the early signs of bowel cancer and it saves lives. In the kit there's a small stick which is used to collect a sample of poo. The lab checks for any traces of blood in the poo which is sometimes a sign of cancer.
Stage 0 – The cancer is at its earliest stage and is only in the mucosa (Tis N0 M0). Stage 1 – The cancer has grown into the submucosa or muscle, but has not spread to the lymph nodes or elsewhere (T1 N0 M0 or T2 N0 M0).
In most cases, colon and rectal cancers grow slowly over many years.