health

Screening tests for colon cancer in adults over age 50 are good preventive
measures. The death rate for colon cancer has dropped since 1990, in
part because of increased awareness and screening by colonoscopy. Colon
cancer can almost always be caught in its earliest and most curable stages
by colonoscopy.
People who have either of the two genes for early colorectal cancer,
which can be identified by genetic testing, should have colonoscopies
during their late teens and have their colons removed when they are in
their 20s to prevent getting colorectal cancer.
Although further research is needed to find out how large a role diet
plays in the development of colorectal cancer, people should consider
lowering the amount of fat and increasing the amount of fiber in their
diets to lower their risk of this type of cancer.