Colon cancer cannot be prevented with certainty, but it may be less likely to occur or may be detected early when treatment chances are greater.

Here are the changes that need to be considered to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer:

• Adopts an active lifestyle, reduces sedentarism; are studies that support the relationship between sedentary and the increased risk of colorectal cancer. It is recommended that adults perform at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week.
• Maintain your normal weight and reduce weight overweight through a healthy and active lifestyle.
• Reduce the adipose tissue around the waist (abdominal fat), which is associated with visceral obesity and implicitly with a higher risk for certain diseases, including cancer.
• Consume many fruits, vegetables, high fiber foods; reduce consumption of red meat and processed meat, which studies show that would increase the risk of colorectal cancer.
• Reduce alcohol consumption and avoid smoking, including passive smoking.

In addition to adopting a healthy lifestyle, a series of screening tests are recommended for the early detection of potential cancer cells. For colorectal cancer, the recommended tests are:

• Test for occult blood in feces or immunochemical feces, annually;
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years;
• Colonoscopy;
• Double-contrast barium enema;
• CT colonography or virtual colonoscopy (alternative to standard colonoscopy).