How to Prevent Colon Cancer From Coming Back

According to information from the Mayo Clinic, colon cancer can affect either the large intestine or the rectum. Symptoms include the presence of blood in the stool, abnormally narrow stools, constant abdominal discomfort, weight loss and changes in bowel habits. If you have already won one round against colon cancer, congratulations. While the national rate of recurrence for colon cancer is around 30 percent, you can decrease that number with some simple lifestyle changes.

Instructions

Prevent Colon Cancer Recurrence

• 1

  Alter your diet to decrease your risk of colon cancer recurrence, as diet is an important tool to help ward off cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, you should strive to consume a diet that is rich in grains, fruits, and vegetables--at least 60 percent of your diet should be filled by these items. Keep fat intake low (less than 30 percent of your total daily calories), and try to minimize consumption of unhealthy saturated and trans fats. The remainder of your diet should consist of healthy protein sources like seafood and poultry.

• 2

  Engage in regular exercise to help further reduce your risk of developing colon cancer. Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise on five days out of the week to minimize your risk of recurring colon cancer. Choose an exercise you enjoy--any moderate-intensity exercise will do. Consider brisk walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, pilates, yoga or resistance training.

• 3

  De-stress your life with regular practice of stress reduction techniques like meditation. According to the Mayo Clinic, research indicates that regular meditation can help to reduce your risk of developing a number of diseases, including cancer. Simply sit or lie in a relaxing environment, close your eyes and attempt to make your breathing as slow and as deep as possible. Practice for 20 to 30 minutes per day for optimal benefits.

• 4

  Continue to visit your physician regularly to be tested for signs of returning colon cancer, as regular checkups are the key to minimizing your risk. Follow your physician's recommendations in full for the best chance of preventing the return of cancer. Additionally, if the cancer does return despite your best efforts, this type of proactive behavior will help to detect the signs of colon cancer while they are in an early stage, making it far easier to treat for the second time than if you detected it after it developed more fully.