Just received my AICR newletter. I love getting this newsletter it is full of information about how we can prevent cancer. The article that caught my attention was the one written about Colorectal cancer and how it is one of the most preventative types of cancer. Did you know that March was National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month? Did you know that Colorectal cancer is the THIRD most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States. AICR reported that Continuous Update Project (CUP) estimated that 50% of all colorectal cancer cases are preventable through diet, staying a healthy weight and exercise.
The following are causes of Colorectal cancer:
1. Being overweight or obese increases risk of colorectal cancer.
2. Processed meats (hot dogs and bacon) and red meats.
AICR recommends eating no more than 18 ounces of cooked red meat per week. We all know that cooking meat at high temperatures creates charring which can lead to formation of cancer-causing substances.
The following are ways to avoid colorectal cancer:
1. eat fiber-rich plant foods, i.e., carrots, tomatoes, berries, peaches leafy greens are some
2. get daily physical activity, i.e. walk 1/2 hour daily, that’s daily. Then take it up to 60 minutes a day for added benefit.
3. limit alcoholic beverages. Men should drink no more than 2 drinks a day, women no more than one drink a day.
After all the above the next way to prevent colon cancer it is to get colonoscopy screening.
Last year a cancer journal reported that colon cancer incidence rates in the US have dropped 30 % among adults 50 and older since 1994. This is attributed to the wider use of colonoscopy. This type of screening allows the detection and removal of precancerous growth, along with early detection when treatment is most successful.
So if you are 50 and over and have not had a colonoscopy this is a no, no. Colon cancer is preventable with all of the above but most important as we all know early detection is the key to stop cancer. So those of you who think that having a colonoscopy is not for you(you know who you are) please rethink this. Go on call your gastroenterologist and set a date to start the process.
As my husband and I are survivors we thank God that there is the technology to see inside our bodies. For its a fact that the best way to beat cancer is to catch it during it’s very early stages.
We can stop cancer, in its cancerous track.