Prevention

Get screened for colon cancer
 

People with average risk should begin screening for colon cancer at the age of 50 and repeat regularly. If you have family history, or are at higher risk (refer to "Who are at risk") screening should begin earlier, even at 45. 
 

Different forms of screening include:

• Annual fecal occult blood testing
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years
• Colonoscopy every 10 years
• Virtual colonoscopy (CT colonography) every five years
• Stool DNA testing — though this is a new screening approach and it's not clear how often it should be repeated

Make lifestyle changes to reduce your risk



You can take steps to reduce your risk of colon cancer by making changes in your everyday life. Take steps to:



• Maintain a healthy weight. If you have a healthy weight, work to maintain your weight by combining a healthy diet with daily exercise. If you need to lose weight, ask your doctor about healthy ways to achieve your goal. Aim to lose weight slowly by increasing the amount of exercise you get and reducing the number of calories you eat.
• Exercise most days of the week. Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise on most days. If you've been inactive, start slowly and build up gradually to 30 minutes. Also, talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program.
• Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains contain vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants, which may play a role in cancer prevention. Choose a variety of fruits and vegetables so that you get an array of vitamins and nutrients.
• Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all. If you choose to drink alcohol, limit the amount of alcohol you drink to no more than one drink a day for women and two for men.
• Stop smoking. Talk to your doctor about ways to quit that may work for you.

Colon cancer prevention for people with a high risk



If you have an increased risk of colon cancer, discuss the benefits and risks of these preventive treatments with your doctor:



• Aspirin, Celecoxib and other pain relievers. Some evidence links a reduced risk of polyps and colon cancer to regular aspirin use. Other pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen (Aleve, others), have also been studied as a way to prevent colon cancer. Some studies have found these other pain relievers may reduce the risk of precancerous polyps and colon cancer. Celecoxib and other drugs known as COX-2 inhibitors provide pain relief. Some evidence suggests COX-2 drugs can reduce the risk of precancerous polyps in people who've been diagnosed with these polyps in the past. But side effects include ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding. Some of these other pain relievers have been linked to an increased risk of heart problems.
• Surgery to prevent cancer. In cases of rare, inherited syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis, or inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis, your doctor may recommend removal of your entire colon and rectum in order to prevent cancer from occurring.