Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in both men and women in the U.S. Learn about the known causes and what you can do to reduce your risk.

Maintain a Healthy Weight
Being overweight or obese raises colorectal cancer risk. Eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly to help control your weight.

Exercise Regularly
Regular physical activity can significantly lower colorectal cancer risk. When it comes to exercising, people who are overweight or obese have about the same reduced risk as healthy-weight people (National Cancer Institute).

Watch What You Eat
Choose a diet that consists of many plant-based foods (fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans) and that limits red and processed meats (American Institute for Cancer Research). Eating high-fiber foods may also reduce colorectal cancer risk.

Don’t Smoke
Tobacco use is the number one preventable cause of cancer. Burning tobacco releases 7,000 chemicals into your body, at least 69 of which are carcinogenic (National Cancer Institute). 

Limit Alcohol Use
The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies alcohol as a group 1 carcinogen. If you drink alcohol, limit yourself to two drinks a day if you’re a man and one a day if you’re a woman. See below for standard drink sizes.

Get Screened
Certain screenings increase the chances of finding colorectal cancer early, when it may be easier to treat. Click here to learn about the different screening options available.

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Visit the Colorectal Cancer Alliance website to learn more.