Family Registry For families who are affected with various forms of hereditary colorectal cancer 
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Studies indicate that certain lifestyle factors increase risk for colorectal cancer. These include:
- a diet that is high in red, processed, or heavily cooked meats
- lack of exercise
- obesity (particularly having excess fat in the waist area, rather than the hips or thighs)
- cigarette smoking (studies indicate that smokers are 30 to 40 percent more likely than nonsmokers to die of colorectal cancer because they are more likely to develop polyps)
- heavy alcohol consumption
Ways to Reduce Your Risk
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Eat less fat and more fruits, vegetables, and fiber.
The American Cancer Society recommends eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day and several servings of other foods from plant sources, such as whole grain breads, cereals, grains, rice, pasta, or beans.
Doctors once thought that a low-fat, high-fiber diet might reduce the recurrence of colon polyps. However, the findings of the Polyp Prevention Trial failed to support that hypothesis. Although diet was not shown to affect the recurrence rate of colon polyps, it may still affect other stages of colon cancer. Moreover, following such a diet can reduce the risk of other disorders, such as heart disease, hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. As a result, our doctors continue to recommend that you follow a low-fat, high-fiber diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, which can provide additional health benefits.
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Get more exercise.
Even regular moderate physical activity such as taking the stairs instead of an elevator, raking leaves, and walking can help reduce your risk.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
Since obesity has been identified as a risk factor for colorectal cancer, maintaining a healthy weight can reduce your risk. Eating a low-fat diet and getting regular exercise are excellent ways to get and stay fit.
Other Dietary Factors
Some studies have suggested that the following vitamins and minerals may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer:
- vitamin D
- calcium
- magnesium
- folic acid
However, more research is needed before doctors can recommend that you take these nutrients in supplement form to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.
Aspirin and Other NSAIDs
Many studies have found that people who regularly use aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or celecoxib for arthritis) have a lower risk of colorectal cancer and polyps. Other studies have demonstrated that aspirin can prevent the growth of polyps in people who were previously treated for early stages of colorectal cancer or who had previously had polyps removed from the colon.
However, aspirin and other NSAIDs can have serious side effects. Aspirin can cause stomach bleeding in some people, and drugs such as celecoxib may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. For these reasons, doctors are not yet ready to recommend that people take aspirin or other NSAIDs specifically to reduce colorectal cancer risk.
Hormone-Replacement Therapy
Some studies have shown that women who use hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) consisting of estrogen and progesterone after menopause have a reduced risk of colon cancer. However, large studies have also shown that postmenopausal HRT can pose health risks not related to colorectal cancer. The decision to use HRT is one that should be made between a woman and her healthcare provider after discussing the potential benefits and risks.
The National Cancer Institute provides current information about risks and benefits of postmenopausal hormone use on their Web site, cancer.gov.
Genetics & Colorectal Cancer
About 20 percent of all cases of colon cancer are thought to be related to heredity. Physicians today recognize two forms of inherited colon cancer that account for some, but not all, of those cases: familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), which is also known as Lynch syndrome. For more information, see the section on Colon Cancer & Heredity.
