Colon and Rectal Cancers - Highlights

Highlights

Diet and Lifestyle

• A low-fat diet does not help prevent colorectal cancer, according to a Women’s Health Initiative study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. However, the study evaluated only the total fat, not type of fat consumed.
• Calcium and vitamin D supplements do not help reduce colorectal cancer risk, indicates another 2006 Women’s Health Initiative study.
• Exercise is one of the best preventions for colorectal cancer. New research suggests that exercise may also help improve survival for patients diagnosed with stage I - III colorectal cancer.
• Smokers and drinkers are likely to develop colorectal cancer at a younger age than people who abstain from tobacco and alcohol, suggests a 2006 study. Additional research indicates that female smokers are at especially high risk.

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Aspirin for Prevention?

Daily aspirin use does reduce the risk for colorectal cancer, according to a 2005 Nurse’s Health Study. However, aspirin appeared only to benefit women who took it regularly for more than 10 years, and at dose levels that increase the risk for stomach bleeding. At this time, most experts do not recommend aspirin -- or other medications -- solely for colorectal cancer prevention.

In fact, in early 2007, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended against the routine use of aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to prevent colorectal cancer in people over age 50 who are at average risk for colorectal cancer.

Follow-Up Testing Guidelines

In 2005, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) updated its guidelines for follow-up testing for patients who have been treated for colorectal cancer. The new guidelines recommend:

• Regular doctor visits are an essential part of follow-up care. Since cancer is most likely to recur during the first 3 years after treatment, ASCO advises patients to see their doctors every 3 - 6 months during this time.
• Patients at high-risk for cancer recurrence should get an annual computerized tomography (CT) scan for the first 3 years after treatment. A CT scan can help determine if the cancer has spread to the liver or lungs.

Review Date: 03/06/2007
Reviewed By: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: Greg Juhn, M.T.P.W., David R. Eltz, Kelli A. Stacy. Previously reviewed by Harvey Simon, M.D., Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital (9/1/2006).