Colon Cancer Detection and Prevention

How To Prevent Colon Cancer

Regular colon cancer screening tests are the best way to prevent a major health crisis involving colon cancer. The sooner colon cancer is diagnosed, the higher the chance of a successful outcome. Doctors recommend that colon cancer screening tests should begin at age 50 for those who have an average risk for getting colon cancer.

It's best to discuss all options with a doctor. There are currently several types of colon cancer screening tests available.

• Annual fecal occult blood testing,
• Colonoscopy every 10 years,
• Double-contrast barium enema every five years,
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years,
• Stool DNA testing (it's not clear at this time how often this test should be done),
• Virtual colonoscopy (CT colonography) every five years.

The doctor may recommend colon cancer screening tests screenings be done sooner or more often for someone who is considered at high risk.

Medicare and most health insurance plans cover colon cancer screening tests. If you're more than 50 years old and are currently covered by Medicare benefits, you will probably also be covered for cover annual fecal occult blood tests and sigmoidoscopy every four years.

Persons at high risk for colorectal cancer are usually covered for colonoscopy every two years, Persons deemed to be at an average risk are covered every 10 years.

The best way to prevent or at least lower your risk of getting colorectal cancer is to make lifestyle changes, especially in the way you eat.

Colon cancer diet Make sure your diet includes plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. These contain vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants, which are believed to play a beneficial role in cancer prevention.

Limit your fat intake. Saturated fat from animals resources, particularly red meat, may be especially dangerous. Certain dairy products and certain kinds of coconut and palm oils also include saturated fats.

Vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), calcium, folic acid and magnesium are believed to help prevent colon cancer. Eat a varied diet that contains these elements, including skim or low-fat milk, shrimp, tofu and sardines with the bones.

Magnesium can be found in leafy greens, nuts, peas and beans.

Vitamin B-6 is found grains, legumes, peas, spinach, carrots, potatoes, dairy foods and meat.

Vitamin B-9 occurs naturally in dark leafy greens such as spinach and lettuce, and in legumes, melons, bananas, broccoli and orange juice.

Folic acid is the synthetic form vitamin B-9, and it can be found in fortified breads, cereals and supplements often contain

Keep alcohol intake to no more than one drink a day for women and two for men. "One drink is considered to be a 4- to 5-ounce glass of wine, a 12-ounce can of beer, or a 1.5-ounce shot of 80-proof liquor.

Don't smoke.

Maintain a healthy body weight through diet and physical activity. Talk to a doctor about the best and safest exercise program for yourself.

Also ask your doctor if you should be taking any drugs that may reduce your risk. Research indicates that certain medications probably lower the risk of precancerous polyps or colon cancer.

If your doctor determines that you may be at a higher-than-average risk for colon cancer, ask about the possible benefits and risks of these medications.

At this time, more research needs to be done in this area.

Is there a colon cancer vaccine? There are a number of research projects underway aimed at developing a colon cancer vaccine.One colon cancer vaccine is in clinical trials at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Instead of focusing on a cancer-related virus, this vaccine triggers the immune system to attack a faulty protein that's often abundant in colorectal cancer tissue and precancerous tissue.

If the vaccine is successful, it reduce the need for repeated colonoscopies in certain patients who are at high risk for developing colon cancer.

Related blog post: Hormone Replacement Therapy May Reduce Women's Risk of Colon Cancer.

Click on American Cancer Society's Complete Guide to Colorectal Cancer to go to Amazon.com's product information page for this book.

It is also available from Barnes and Noble by clicking here or Borders by clicking here.