Sami Mansfield: The critical role of lifestyle medicine and the risk factors of Obesity and Alcohol in colorectal cancer

Sami Mansfield, Founder of Cancer Wellness for Life, shared on LinkedIn:

“While colorectal cancer awareness month is past – CRC is still a pressing concern! As we consider prevention and early detection, we must consider the critical role of  lifestyle medicine and the risk factors of Obesity and Alcohol.

A groundbreaking study in the Annals of Oncology reveals key factors behind the rise of colorectal cancers in young adults under 50.

– Contrary to the declining trend in older adults, young adults are facing an increasing risk.

What’s Behind the Rise?
– The study points away from genetics and towards lifestyle choices: alcohol consumption and obesity emerge as significant, yet modifiable, risk factors.
– ‘Genes do not change that quickly,’ emphasizes Dr. Ulrike Peters, pointing to lifestyle changes over the last few decades as the real culprits.

Modifiable Risk Factors Highlighted
– Alcohol Consumption: A major lifestyle factor linked to early-onset colorectal cancer.
– Obesity: Another crucial factor, with our environments and diets making it harder to maintain a healthy weight.

Genetic Insights and Future Directions
– While genetics play a role, especially in cases like Lynch syndrome, the rise in cases is more closely associated with environmental and lifestyle factors.
– The research, involving international collaboration, underscores the importance of data sharing and comprehensive studies to understand this trend across different populations.

Call to Action: What Can We Do?
– Awareness and prevention are key. Understanding the connection between our lifestyle choices and the risk of developing early-onset colorectal cancer is the first step.
– Efforts are underway to develop risk calculators to help individuals assess their colorectal cancer risk with greater precision.

Together, We Can Make a Difference
– It’s not about assigning blame but about empowering individuals with knowledge and tools for prevention.
– By addressing modifiable risk factors like alcohol consumption and obesity, we can work towards reducing the incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer.

Let’s Spread Awareness and Encourage Healthy Choices.

Great work by Fred Hutch Patient Care researchers!”

Source: Sami Mansfield/LinkedIn