Colorectal cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canada. It is a type of cancer that can spread to other organs. With March being Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, let’s talk about how you can help prevent and reduce your risk of developing colorectal cancer.
Here’s what you can do to protect your colorectal health:
- Avoid alcohol: People who drink alcohol have a higher chance of developing colorectal cancer. It’s ideal not to drink alcohol, but if you do, make sure that you keep it less than 2 drinks a day for men and less than 1 drink a day for women.
- Avoid smoking: Smokers have an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. Quitting tobacco will help protect your colorectal health.
- Maintain a healthy body weight: According to research, people who are overweight or obese have a higher chance of developing colorectal cancer.
- Live an active lifestyle: Being physically active can help reduce your risk. For adults, 30 minutes of walking, doing household chores, or anything that can be considered as moderate activity can surely help.
- Proper diet (More fibre, less red and processed meat): Eating foods that are high in fibre helps keep the digestive system healthy. Plus, it also speeds up the movement of food through the colon. Avoid cooking meat at high-temperatures as it creates cancer-causing chemicals.
- Take screening tests and follow cancer screening guidelines: Taking these tests will help find colon or rectal cancer early. As a matter of fact, if you follow cancer screening guidelines, cancer can be found before you notice the symptoms.
If you have someone in your immediate family that has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer, then you’re more likely to develop it. But at the end of the day, you have the power to reduce your risk of developing it by making good healthy lifestyle choices.
At La Vie, we can provide you with an advanced plan that is based on a preventive and proactive approach. We use advanced diagnostic technology for early detection of cancer and any other health or lifestyle-related medical problem.
If you want to learn more, you can book your assessment by calling (613) 592-0862 or complete the form on this page to have a patient advisor call you
