What you eat can influence your chances of getting colon cancer according to a new study. 7Healthcast reporter Dr. Deanna Lites has more on the findings.
"Even if you had a really good diet, you still had a fairly high risk of getting colon cancer," Dr. David Ryan of Mass general Hospital said.
But now a new study finds what a person eats could have an impact.
Researchers say people who eat more than two portions of red meat a day, are 35 percent more likely to develop bowel cancer.
"The people who had a less intake of red meat, and a higher intake of fish had a smaller incidence of colon cancer," Dr. Ryan said.
The study followed more than half a million men and women from ten European countries for ten years and focused on the red meat, poultry and fish in their diet.
"The new finding here is eating more fish reduces your risk of getting colon cancer, before this wasn't quite there that this was the case," Dr. Ryan said.
The type of red meat you eat also makes a difference.
"People who had processed meats actually had a higher risk of getting colon cancer than the people who had non-processed red meat," Dr. Ryan said.
Dr. Ryan said the main message to take home from this study is the importance of screening for prevention.
"The number one recommendation is at age 50 give yourself a birthday present and get a colonscopy," Dr. Ryan said.
The study also found no link between eating poultry and colon cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates there will be 146,000 new cases of colorectal cancer this year.
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