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 meat
- 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)
Here are some ways you can 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 food from plant sources such as breads, cereals, grains, rice, pasta, or beans.
Doctors had also 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 such 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.
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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.
Some studies suggest that taking a daily multivitamin with folic acid may also lower risk for colorectal cancer. Others indicate that getting more calcium, either via supplements or calcium-rich foods, may have a beneficial effect.
About Hormone-Replacement Therapy
Some studies have shown that women who use hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) 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 National Cancer Institute provides current information about risks and benefits of menopausal hormone use at www.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.
