An unhealthy diet has long been associated with an increased risk of developing colon cancer, at times without much evidence other than common sense. Now a growing body of research is backing up these claims with studies showing that people who eat “good” foods may indeed be able to reduce their risk of developing colon cancer.
While most research has focused on the impact of diet on the initial development of colon cancer (what’s known as primary prevention), only a few small studies have examined the effect of diet on colon cancer recurrence. But findings from a new, larger study looking at that question suggest that eating "good" foods can reduce your risk of a recurrence of colon cancer as well and improve your odds of survival.
New research also demonstrates the value of certain nutrients in reducing the risk of colorectal polyp recurrence. But when it comes to adding some supplements to your diet to get those nutrients, there can be too much of a good thing.
What’s Your Dietary Pattern? My diet consists primarily of:
A) fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, poultry, and fish
B) red meat, fried foods, full-fat dairy products, refined grains, and desserts
If you selected B, beware. Investigators who examined the relationship between the dietary patterns of more than 1,000 people who had been treated for stage III colon cancer and their risk of colon cancer recurrence found that those who followed a typical American diet (answer B) were three times more likely to experience a recurrence of colon cancer than their counterparts who followed a more prudent diet (answer A), and they also were more likely to die.
The study, which was reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, is the first to address the effect of diet on recurrence in a population of colon cancer survivors. Since this was an observational study that relied on the participants to remember and report what they ate, the investigators caution that their results do not prove that a typical American diet causes colorectal cancers to recur. However, the results, they say, do strongly suggest that a diet consisting primarily of red and processed meats, french fries, refined grains, and sweets and desserts increases the risk of cancer recurrence and decreases survival.
