17 March 2017: Eat healthier for colon cancer awareness month

March has been designated as colon cancer awareness month since 2000.  Colon cancer is projected to cause 50,260 deaths in the US in 2017, with 1,680 in Michigan (see Cancer Facts & Figures 2017 at pages 4 and 6), although the death rate is declining (see Cancer Facts & Figures 2017 at pages 2 and  3).  Overall, colon cancer is the #2 cause of cancer deaths in men in the US (projected deaths in the US in 2017 are lung: 84,590, colon: 27,150, prostate: 26,730) and #3 in women (projected deaths in the US in 2017 are lung: 71,280, breast: 40,610, colon: 23,110, see Cancer Facts & Figures 2017 at page 10).

Colon cancer is strongly influenced by diet.  According to Dr. Joel Kahn, my medical school classmate (University of Michigan, 1983), cardiologist and owner of Green Space Cafe, dietary and lifestyle changes can modify your risk:

Six dietary and lifestyle recommendations: 1) lower body weight 2) increased physical activity 3) reducing daily calories 4) eating lots of plant foods 5) reducing red and processed meat and 6) limiting alcohol were examined over 8 years in 66,920 adults aged 50-76 years with no history of CRC [colorectal cancer]. The study found that following between one and three of the lifestyle steps resulted in a 34-45 percent lower risk of CRC while meeting four to six of the targets resulted in a stunning 58 percent lower incidence of CRC. The lowest CRC risk for women related to lower body fatness and reduced red and processed meat in the diet while for men it was avoiding excessive alcohol intake and reducing red and processed meat in the diet.  See BLOG: Dr. Joel Kahn Talks Colon Health For Colon Cancer Awareness Month, dbusiness, 16 March 2017 and Cancer Causes Control. 2016 Nov;27(11):1347-1359

Why does diet make a difference?  As recently reported by Columbia University researchers, our diet affects the microbiota (the mix of microorganisms found in and on all multicellular organisms) in our gut, which influences disease:

Microbiota and host form a complex 'super-organism' in which symbiotic relationships confer benefits to the host in many key aspects of life. However, defects in the regulatory circuits of the host that control bacterial sensing and homeostasis, or alterations of the microbiome, through environmental changes (infection, diet or lifestyle), may disturb this symbiotic relationship and promote disease. Increasing evidence indicates a key role for the bacterial microbiota in carcinogenesis.  See Nat Rev Cancer 2013 Nov;13(11):800-12.

A friend of mine once said "What's the point of living if you can't eat the foods you like?"  There certainly is some truth in that.  But it is also true that many of us would rather find ways to modify our diet and lifestyle that we could accept, if we could avoid certain diseases (overweight / obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary heart disease, reflux) that are far more troubling.  Personally, I find it hard to make major changes in my life.  But I can make a small change today, which not only may make a difference, but gives me a new outlook on the future.