
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, which makes this a good time to learn about the risk factors for colorectal cancer and what you can do to prevent it.
Cancer in the colon and cancer in the rectum often are referred to together as colorectal cancer. Approximately 106,970 new cases of colon cancer and 46,050 new cases of rectal cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2023, according to the American Cancer Society. Excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the U.S.
The risk factors that can increase your risk of these cancers include:
You can take steps to reduce your risk of colorectal cancer by making changes in your everyday life. Lifestyle choices, such as eating a healthy diet including a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains; drinking alcohol in moderation, if at all; not smoking and stopping if you already smoke; exercising most days of the week; and maintaining a healthy weight, all can reduce your risk of colorectal cancer.
Also, people with an average risk of colon cancer should consider colon cancer screening around age 45, according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. But people with an increased risk, such as those with a family history of colon cancer, should consider screening sooner. How long you should continue regular colon cancer screening will depend on your age and whether your screenings have been negative throughout.
Connect with others talking about living with colorectal cancer in the Colorectal Cancer support group on Mayo Clinic Connect, an online patient community moderated by Mayo Clinic.
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