> Colorectal Cancer 101> Cancer Research> Prevention

Preventing Cancer in Women with Lynch Syndrome
Lynch syndrome is a genetic condition that predisposes people to colon cancer and other cancers as well. For example, women with Lynch Syndrome also have about a 50 percent chance of developing uterine cancer and a 10 percent chance of developing ovarian cancer. This study looked at ways to prevent the other cancers from occurring.

Green Tea May Reduce Colon Cancer Risk in Women
A study published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention examined the link between green tea consumption and colorectal cancer risk in women. Researchers surveyed approximately 70,000 Chinese women regarding their green tea consumption and then tracked them for six years to see who developed cancer of the colon or rectum.

Are Colonoscopies the Best Choice for African Americans?
Research presented at Digestive Disease Week 2007 in Washington, D.C., indicated that colonoscopies are the best colon cancer screening option for African Americans. When first introduced to the idea, I wondered why race would even matter. Why would researchers recommend colonoscopies for African Americans but not everybody else?

Beliefs About Lifestyle Changes and Cancer Prevention
Do you believe that lifestyle changes can help you prevent cancer? Are you pretty clear about what the "right" lifestyle changes are with regard to preventing cancer? If so, you're in the minority according to a study published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention. I found the results of the study disturbing and want to make it crystal clear what you can do today to reduce your risk of developing colon cancer.

Men, Grab Your Green Leafy Vegetables
In American culture, eating green leafy vegetables, or any vegetables really, just isn't considered manly. Meat and potatoes? Man-food. Hamburgers, hotdogs, beer: man-food. Barbequed chicken? Healthy man-food. The only manly character I can think of who's known for eating his green leafy vegetables is Popeye, and frankly, there's just something weird about him.

Whole-Grain Foods Reduce Colorectal Cancer Risk
For the past couple of years, I've been trying to incorporate more whole-grain foods into my diet because I know that in general, they're good for me. So, I was pleasantly surprised to see a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that determined eating whole-grain foods can reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Study Reviews Pros and Cons of Virtual Colonoscopy
Virtual colonoscopy provides a way to look inside your colon and rectum without actually having to go inside them. As cool as it sounds, there's debate over when it's appropriate to use virtual colonoscopy in lieu of more conventional colon cancer screening methods.

Dietary Fiber Decreases Colon Cancer Risk
A study published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention looked at the impact of dietary fiber intake on the risk of colorectal cancer. The researchers determined that colon cancer risk (but not rectal cancer risk) decreased as a person's dietary fiber increased. Interestingly, dietary fiber from beans seemed to decrease colon cancer risk the most.

Certain Flavonoids Decrease Colorectal Cancer Risk
There are many different types of flavonoids, but research published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention pinpointed certain ones that may help prevent colorectal cancer. The winners: quercetin, epicatechin, and catechin flavonoids.

Calcium Combo Decreases Risk of Polyps
If you keep up with colon cancer news, you've probably heard a lot about calcium and vitamin D with respect to colorectal cancer. There's been a lot of research and a lot of disagreement, which of course, has led to more research. A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology put a new spin on it, adding retinol to the mix.

Active Lifestyle May Help Prevent Colon Cancer in Women
A study published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention sought to determine if hormone replacement therapy might explain why physical activity lowers the risk of developing colon cancer in some women but not others.

Panel Says No to Aspirin Therapy for Colon Cancer Prevention
You've probably heard that an aspirin a day can help keep heart attacks away. Somewhere along the line, colon cancer got tacked onto that statement, too. If you take aspirin on your own volition (not recommended by your doctor) because you're trying to reduce your colon cancer risk, the USPSTF has some news for you.

Statins May Impact Colon Cancer Risk
A positive side effect of statins is that they may reduce a person's risk of developing colon cancer. I stress "may" because there's conflicting research. Studies have shown statins can reduce risk and others have shown they have no impact.

Omega-3’s for Colorectal Cancer Prevention?
A study published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention explored whether omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Researchers determined that omega 3 fatty acids did show a benefit, but only under certain circumstances.

Folate's Role in Rectal Cancer Prevention
Research published in the journal Cancer Causes and Control found that consuming at least 475 mcg (micrograms) of folate each day reduced rectal cancer risk.

Preventing Polyps with Calcium
Research published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute determined that people who supplemented their diet with 1,200 mg of elemental calcium each day for four years had fewer recurring polyps than people who consumed a placebo. Interestingly, the effect lasted up to five years after they stopped taking the calcium.

Can Curry and Onions Really Prevent Colon Cancer?
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that curcumin and quercetin (substances present in curry and onions) can significantly reduce the number and size of polyps. But has the media overblown this a bit? I think so.

Wine May Lower Risk of Colorectal Cancer
In terms of colorectal cancer risk, it seems beer is bad but wine is fine. A study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology found that heavy beer drinkers were more likely to develop colorectal cancer than non-beer drinkers. Wine, however, seemed to have the opposite effect.

Fish Triumphs Over Cow
Yet another study has found that eating red meat can increase a person's risk of developing colorectal cancer. Fish, on the other hand, came out smelling like a rose.

Have You Had Your Vitamin B6 Today?
A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute reported that women who had the highest levels of Vitamin B6 in their blood were much less likely to develop colorectal cancer than women who had the lowest levels of Vitamin B6 in their blood.

Milk Does a Colon Good
Dairy farmers all over the world are smiling because of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Turns out, milk - not just calcium, but milk specifically - can reduce a person's risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Do Double Time
Findings presented at the 40th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology showed that people who'd been using cholesterol-lowing drugs for at least five years, had a 47 percent lower chance of developing colorectal cancer.

Eating Pizza Slices Colon Cancer Risk?
Italian researchers claim that eating pizza on a regular basis may decrease a person's chances of developing colon cancer by more than 25 percent. Sound too good to be true? It is, a little bit.

Vitamins Aren't Always Good for You
According to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, taking a beta-carotene supplement could increase or decrease your risk of developing colon cancer. Which it might do, depends on you.