Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Prevention of colorectal cancer

  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Gastroenterology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Opinion Statement

Colorectal cancer is a preventable disease. We currently have the means to substantially decrease the incidence and mortality from this disease; we simply need to implement primary and secondary prevention measures. I encourage patients to eat a diet low in meat and high in vegetables, fruit, and fiber. I also encourage patients to avoid obesity and engage in a regular exercise program. I routinely screen persons at average risk using fecal occult blood tests or flexible sigmoidoscopy after the age of 50 years. Those at higher risk by virtue of family history, a personal history of ulcerative colitis, or previous adenoma should have colonoscopy performed using a schedule tailored to their risk profile.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References and Recommended Reading

  1. Colon, rectum. In Food, Nutrition and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective. Washington: World Cancer Research Fund; 1997:216–251. This is an encyclopedic reference that reviews diet and lifestyle factors believed to be associated with colorectal cancer. The evidence has been graded and summarized by an international panel of experts.

  2. Sandler RS: Epidemiology and risk factors for colorectal cancer. Gastroenterol Clin North Am 1996, 25:717–735.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Potter JD, Steinmetz K: Vegetables, fruit and phytoestrogens as preventive agents. IARC Sci Publ 1996, 61–90.

  4. Giovannucci E, Ascherio A, Rimm EB, et al.: Physical activity, obesity, and risk for colon cancer and adenoma in men. Ann Intern Med 1995, 122:327–334.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Krishnan K, Brenner DE: Chemoprevention of colorectal cancer. Gastroenterol Clin North Am 1996; 25:821–858.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Mandel JS, Bond JH, Church TR, et al.: Reducing mortality from colorectal cancer by screening for fecal occult blood. N Engl J Med 1993, 328:1365–1371.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Kronborg O, Fenger C, Olsen J, et al.: Randomised study of screening for colorectal cancer with faecal-occult-blood test Lancet 1996, 348:1467–1471.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Hardcastle JD, Chamberlain JO, Robinson MH, et al.: Randomised controlled trial of faecal-occult-blood screening for colorectal cancer. Lancet 1996, 348:1472–1477.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Ransohoff DF, Lang CA: Screening for colorectal cancer with the fecal occult blood test: a background paper. Ann Intern Med 1997, 126:811–822. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the literature on fecal occult blood testing. The paper serves as the scientific background for guidelines on fecal occult blood testing from the American College of Physicians.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Winawer SJ, Fletcher RH, Miller L, et al.: Colorectal cancer screening: clinical guidelines and rationale. Gastroenterology 1997, 112:594–642. This extremely comprehensive paper provides a thoughtful evidence-based review of the literature on colorectal cancer screening along with guidelines.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Longnecker MP: Alcohol consumption and risk of cancer in humans: an overview. Alcohol 1995, 12:87–96.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Slattery ML, Benson J, Berry TD, et al.: Dietary sugar and colon cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 1997, 6:677–685.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Slattery ML, Edwards SL, Ma KN, et al.: Physical activity and colon cancer: a public health perspective. Ann Epidemiol 1997, 7:137–145.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Baron JA, Beach M, Mandel J, et al.: A randomized trial of calcium supplementation to prevent colorectal adenomas. New Engl J Med 1998, 340:101–107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Grodstein F, Martinez ME, Platz EA, et al.: Postmenopausal hormone use and risk for colorectal cancer and adenoma. Ann Intern Med 1998, 128:705–712.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Sandler RS: Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents in the prevention of colorectal cancer. Important Adv Oncol 1996, 123–137.

  17. Sturmer T, Glynn RJ, Lee IM, et al.: Aspirin use and colorectal cancer: post-trial follow-up data from the Physicians’ Health Study. Ann Intern Med 1998,128:713–720.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Winawer SJ, Zauber AG, Ho MN, et al.: Prevention of colorectal cancer by colonoscopic polypectomy. N Engl J Med 1993, 329:1977–1981.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Byers T, Levin B, Rothenberger D, et al.: American Cancer Society guidelines for screening and surveillance for early detection of colorectal polyps and cancer: update 1997. CA Cancer J Clin 1997, 47:154–160.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. DuBois RN, Giardiello FM, Smalley WE: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, eicosanoids, and colorectal cancer prevention. Gastroenterol Clin North Am 1996, 25:773–791.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Yamao T, Matsumura Y, Shimada Y, et al.: Abnormal expression of CD44 variants in the exfoliated cells in the feces of patients with colorectal cancer. Gastroenterology 1998, 114:1196–1205.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Allison JE, Tekawa IS, Ransom LJ, et al.: A comparison of fecal occult-blood tests for colorectal-cancer screening. N Engl J Med 1996, 334:155–159.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Ahlquist DA, Hara AK, Johnson CD: Computed tomographic colography and virtual colonoscopy. Gastrointest Endosc Clin North Am 1997, 7:439–452.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 27599-7080, Chapel Hill, NC

    Robert S. Sandler MD, MPH

Authors
  1. Robert S. Sandler MD, MPH
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sandler, R.S. Prevention of colorectal cancer. Curr Treat Options Gastro 2, 27–33 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11938-999-0015-4

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11938-999-0015-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation