What should we take into account when it comes to colon cancer?
Men AND women, both, are at risk for colon cancer (This isn’t really what women had in mind when they fought for equal rights!!!)
While it’s important to know your own personal risks, more than 75% of the people diagnosed with these types of cancers have no known risk factors. The following factors RAISE your risk of getting colon cancer:
- If you have a parent, child, sibling, or any other relative that was diagnosed with colon cancer, especially under the age of 50.
- Do you have a family history of an inherited genetic syndrome, like Lynch syndrome?
- If you or any other member of your family has had any kind of polyps.
- Have you had any kind of Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis?
- If you’ve ever had a diagnosis of breast, ovarian, or endometrial cancer.
- Do you live a sedentary lifestyle?
- Being overweight or obese also doesn’t help!
- Do you overeat red and processed meats?
- If you’ve been living on a diet that’s low in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Do you smoke or regularly drink alcohol?
