Risk Reduction for Colon Cancer

Amber Draper, PharmD, BCOP, clinical pharmacist, Winship Cancer Institute in Georgia discusses educating patients about lifestyle and dietary factors that increase risk of colon cancer. This video was filmed at the 2019 Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association Annual Conference in Fort Worth, Texas.

Amber Draper, PharmD, BCOP: We know that colorectal cancer is closely linked to lifestyle factors and dietary factors. So we also know that countries that have a more Westernized diet, so high in red meat, low in fiber, fruits, and antioxidants, that the colorectal cancer incidence rates are increasing. And so, educating our patients on having a healthier diet, increasing fiber, decreasing red meat, also lowering alcohol intake, because you know, this year ASCO actually released a statement kind of acknowledging the risk that alcohol plays in causing cancer. And they really recommend reducing the intake of alcohol as much as possible. It doesn’t really matter the type of alcohol you drink, it’s more the quantity. And then we also know that as obesity rates are increasing and sedentary lifestyles, that those are also causing an increase in colorectal cancer. So encouraging our patients to be more active, to have a healthier diet, not to smoke, to reduce alcohol intake, those are all things that we can do to reduce the risk of colon cancer.