Colorectal Cancer: What Should Patients and Families Be Told to Lower the Risk of Colorectal Cancer?

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in the United States CRC, however, is potentially preventable, and several strategies may be employed to decrease the incidence of and mortality from CRC Understanding of individual risk and adherence to screening and surveillance recommendations undoubtedly will reduce CRC-associated deaths Several natural and synthetic chemopreventive agents may prove effective for both primary and secondary CRC chemo-prevention Finally, dietary modifications (ie, increased dietary fiber, fruits and vegetables, and decreased red meat) and other lifestyle changes (ie, increased physical activity weight maintenance avoidance of smoking, and moderation of alcohol intake) also may lower the risk of developing CRC