Reduce your risk

Your daily routine helps contribute to your overall health, so you can play a vital role in reducing your risk of developing colon cancer. Here are some important ways in which you can reduce your risk.

• Get screened regularly. If you have a partner(s), encourage them to get screened. Mutual encouragement can work wonders!
• Stay active! Whether it’s walking, swimming, or anything else that keeps you moving, keep it up!
• Maintain a healthy weight. Research shows that being overweight or obese increases your risk of cancer.
• Limit the amount of red and processed meat in your diet. The Canadian Cancer Society recommends limiting yourself to 3 servings of red meat per week with each serving being no more than of 3 ounces.
• Avoid excessive regular consumption of alcohol. The Canadian Cancer Society recommends drinking no more than one standard alcoholic drink a day. A drink is defined as one 350mL (12 oz.) bottle of beer (5% alcohol), one 145mL (5 oz.) glass of wine (12% alcohol) or one 45mL (1.5 oz.) shot of spirits (40% alcohol).
• If you smoke, try to quit and avoid secondhand smoke as much as possible.
• Increase your vitamin D intake. Research shows that vitamin D is a protective factor in colon cancer. You can get this from exposure to sunlight, eating foods that are fortified with vitamin D such as fatty fish like salmon, fortified milk and orange juice, or taking supplements as advised by your doctor. Remember that sun exposure can bring risks associated with skin cancer, so talk to your doctor.