Preventative measures against bowel cancer

“This latest report shows that there is enough evidence to recommend that people can reduce their bowel cancer risk by consuming less red and processed meat and alcohol, having more foods containing fibre, and by maintaining a healthy weight and being regularly physically active. This report confirms that bowel cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer and we estimate that about 43 per cent of bowel cancers cases in the UK could be prevented through these sorts of changes. That is about 17,000 cases every year.”

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43% of bowel cancer may be preventable with diet and lifestyle changes - Yet there is no blame attached to getting this form of cancer (not that i'm saying that here should be BTW)

I'm just comparing it to diabetes, which has a genetic link for many people and yet sufferers get the blame for causing it by bad diet and lifestyle.... doesn't make sense to me.

Fabulous article you linked to, noblehead! Although I totally agree with anniep!

(Just as a note, I know I'm on here late! ^__^;

Anyway, I think cancer and cancer prevention is determined by a large number of factors. Sure diet and lifestyle choices may prevent many things from "going awry" but some people are simply predisposed to these conditions via genetics or environmental factors beyond their control! For example, an infant that's surrounded by smoke will probably have lung problems in the future. Now, in the case of rectal cancer, I'm not sure if there's much one can do. Just do what the article tells you and hope for the best! If it's your bowels and stomach you're worried about, monitor what you ingest. Simple, no?

Of course, if you do get rectal cancer, you gotta wonder -- what treatments are available to people like you and me? Can rectal cancer be treated with proton therapy? I've heard a bit about it.

Thanks, folks!