Excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States. The American Cancer Society's estimates for the number of colorectal cancer cases in the United States for 2016 are: 95,270 new cases of colon cancer. 39,220 new cases of rectal cancer.
Here are some tips to help lower your risk of colon cancer:
Get screened. Regular screening is the best way to protect yourself from this disease
Maintain a healthy weight
Don’t smoke
Be physically active. Aim for 30 or more minutes of moderate activity each day
Limit red meat, especially processed meat (bacon, sausage and bologna)
Get your calcium and vitamin D. Aim for 1,000 – 1,200 of calcium per day and 1,000 international units (IU) of Vitamin D each day