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Colorectal Cancer Prevention
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Avoiding risk factors and increasing protective factors may
help prevent cancer.
Avoiding cancer risk factors such as smoking, being overweight, and lack of exercise may help prevent certain cancers. Increasing protective factors such as quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, and exercising may also help prevent some cancers. Talk to your doctor or other health care professional about how you might lower your risk of cancer.
The following risk factors may increase the risk of colorectal cancer:
Age
The risk of colorectal cancer begins to increase after age 40 and continues to increase as you get older.
Obesity and lack of exercise
Obesity is linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer. A lifestyle that does not include regular exercise may also be linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer.
Smoking
Smoking cigarettes is linked to an increased risk of
developing colorectal adenomas (noncancerous tumors) and colorectal
cancer. Cigarette smokers who have had surgery to remove colorectal adenomas have an increased risk for the adenomas to recur (come back).
Alcohol
Drinking alcoholic beverages may increase the risk of
colorectal cancer.
The following protective factors may decrease the risk of colorectal cancer:
Hormone replacement therapy
Studies have shown that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) that includes both estrogen and progesterone lowers the risk of colorectal cancer in postmenopausal women. HRT with estrogen alone does not lower the risk. However, hormone use may increase the risk of breast cancer, heart disease, and blood clots.
Polyp removal
Most colorectal polyps are adenomas, which may develop into cancer. The removal of polyps in the colon and rectum may lower the
risk of colorectal cancer. Bleeding and infection sometimes occur after polyps are removed during colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy.
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| Polyps in the colon. Some polyps have a stalk and others do not. Inset shows a photo of a polyp with a stalk. |
The effect of the following factors on the risk of colorectal cancer is not known:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
It is not known if the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen) lowers the risk of colorectal cancer. Studies have shown that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) lower the risk of colorectal adenomas (noncancerous tumors), but it is not clear if this results in a lower risk of cancerous tumors in the colon and rectum. The use of NSAIDs increases the risk of heart attack and stroke and some can cause bleeding in the stomach and intestines.
Vitamins
It is not known if taking vitamin D or high doses of folic acid lowers the risk of colorectal cancer.
Diet
It is not known if a diet low in fat and high in fiber, fruits, and vegetables lowers the risk of colorectal cancer.
Some studies have shown that a diet high in fat, proteins, calories, and meat increases the risk of colorectal cancer, but other studies have not.
For more information on diet and health, see the Fruits and Veggies website.
Statins
Studies have not shown that taking statins (cholesterol -lowering drugs) affects the risk of colorectal cancer.
Cancer prevention clinical trials are used to study ways to prevent cancer.
Cancer prevention clinical trials are used to study ways to lower the risk
of developing certain types of cancer. Some cancer prevention trials are
conducted with healthy people who have not had cancer but who have an increased risk for cancer. Other prevention trials
are conducted with people who have had cancer and are trying to prevent another cancer of the same type or to lower their chance of developing a
new type of cancer. Other trials are done with healthy volunteers who are not known to have any risk factors for cancer.
The purpose of some cancer prevention clinical trials is to find out
whether actions people take can prevent cancer. These may include exercising more or quitting smoking
or taking certain medicines, vitamins, minerals, or food supplements.
New ways to prevent colorectal cancer are being studied in clinical trials.
Clinical trials are taking place in many parts of the country. Information about clinical trials can be found in the Clinical Trials section of the NCI Web site. Check NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry for colon cancer prevention trials or rectal cancer prevention trials that are now accepting patients.
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