If you’re looking for another reason to motivate you to quit smoking, consider the risk of getting colon cancer. While most of us associate smoking with lung cancer, it also puts smokers at a 30 to 40 percent greater risk of developing colon cancer in comparison to non-smokers. Research also indicates smoking may be the main cause of more than ten percent of fatal colon cancers.
There are some risk factors for colon cancer we can’t do much about, such as family history of the disease and advancing age. But there are several we can manage, including smoking. Some other colon cancer risk factors we can control include diet, our physical activity level, alcohol intake and obesity. The more risk factors you reduce or eliminate, the less likely you will be to develop colon cancer.
Quitting smoking may be challenging, but it can also be a great way to start developing a healthier lifestyle that will reduce other colon cancer risks. Once you’ve quit, it will be easier to exercise within just days. Start walking more and you’ll find it’s easier to lose weight. Eating a low-fat, high fiber diet will also promote weight loss, and you might find that you no longer have a desire to drink alcohol heavily once you start feeling good naturally through exercise and weight loss.
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