Colorectal polyps are growths in the colon and rectum, some of which may develop into cancer if left untreated. Not all polyps increase the risk of colon cancer, but a type called serrated polyps are considered "high risk" - meaning that if not found and removed, they can develop into cancer.
New research points to some exciting news: Our daily choices, including whether we smoke and what and how much we eat, can have a big impact on our risk of developing these pre-cancerous, serrated polyps in the colon. In other words, we have some personal control over our risk of serrated polyps, and hence, of colon cancer.
The researchers screened 2,830 adults two or more times for colon polyps during a 3-4 year period. They wanted to determine which lifestyle factors, such as tobacco use and eating habits, may be associated with developing serrated colon polyps. The following lifestyle factors were associated with increased risk of developing serrated polyps during the study:
- Obesity, which means having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kilograms per meter squared (kg/m2) or higher. A BMI of 30 kg/m2 translates into being roughly 30 or more pounds over a healthy body weight.
- Cigarette smoking, which as many of us know, not only increases the risk of colon cancer, but also cancers of the lung, head and neck, stomach, bladder, and pancreas.
- Dietary fat, with people who eat the most dietary fat having the highest risk of being diagnosed with serrated polyps.
- Total Energy Intake, which means that the people who eat the most calories have the highest risk of developing polyps. This ties in with the result that people who are obese have a higher risk of polyps: In general, people who eat the most calories are the most likely to be obese.
- Red Meat Intake, with people who eat the most red meat having the highest risk of developing serrated polyps. This finding is in agreement with much of the research on diet and colorectal cancer risk, including a recently released study showing that both red meat and processed meat increase colorectal cancer risk.
- Folate supplements, with people receiving folate treatment having a higher risk of polyps compared with people who do not use folate supplements. It's important to note that folate from foods, such as green leafy vegetables appears to protect against colorectal cancer. Folate from supplements appear to increase risk.
Applying the Research in Your Life
This research is encouraging, because it gives support to the notion that our everyday health choices can help protect us against colon cancer. And if you've already had colon cancer, don't despair. This research is important for you too. Even after diagnosis, it's not too late to improve your wellbeing and make choices that increase the odds of a long, healthy cancer survivorship.
To put these research findings into practice, try the following:
- Make a healthy body weight a priority in your life. Many Americans are overweight and obese. In fact, about 70% of us are. This doesn't mean you can't succeed with weight management. You deserve to be healthy and you deserve to give yourself the time to do this - to eat right and to be physically active.
- If you smoke, quit as soon as you can. Quitting smoking is difficult, but a wide range of supports are available to help. Ask your doctor about nicotine replacement, smoking cessation programs, support groups, and medications that will increase your odds of quitting for good.
- Cut back on the fat in your diet. Focus on cutting out some of the less healthy fats, which are found in processed foods such as chips, crackers, cookies, cakes, microwave meals, and fast food, and in fatty cuts of red meat. When you do eat fat, choose healthier fats such as nuts and seeds and olive and canola oil (for cooking).
- Eat a little less. More calories generally means more risk of many types of cancer, including colorectal cancer. How do you know if you're eating too much? Check to see if your BMI is in a healthy range. If your BMI is in the overweight or obese range, you're likely eating more calories per day than you need for good health.
- Limit red meat to no more than 3 ounces per day, three to five days per week. You can substitute fish, chicken, beans, turkey, tofu, and other choices instead of red meat.
- Skip the folate supplements, unless you are pregnant, nursing, or advised by your doctor to take folate for some other medical condition. If you don't need folate for a specific reason, you should not supplement with this nutrient. Instead, get folate from food sources such as green leafy vegetables, orange juice, beans, lentils, and whole grains.
