Not just genetically determined: colon cancer is one of the types of cancer that could be prevented in many cases. A new analysis shows which factor particularly increases the risk.
Researchers at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have found an alarming connection between obesity and the development of colon cancer. In their new analysis, they come to the conclusion that obesity is responsible for more than 20 percent of colon cancer cases. Previous estimates were around ten percent.
“We therefore took a closer look at the data from our large DACHS study again – with a view to possible biases that were not sufficiently taken into account in other studies,” explained Hermann Brenner, epidemiologist at the DKFZ, according to the press release.
As study author Marko Mandic explained, previous studies did not sufficiently consider three relevant questions:
“In the first run, we proceeded as was usual in previous epidemiological studies,” Mandic continued. “In the second round, however, we carefully calculated out possible distortions caused by the three aspects – weight loss before diagnosis, colonoscopy beforehand and an increase in risk with a BMI below 25.”
The result: In the first round, 11.5 percent of colon cancer cases were attributed to obesity. However, after the methodological corrections, this proportion was 23.4 percent.
The new findings clearly show that a person’s weight plays a much larger role in the development of colon cancer than previously assumed. “Our results suggest that excess weight accounts for approximately twice as large a share in the development of colon cancer as previously assumed,” says Brenner. “We assume that the importance of obesity as a risk factor has so far been massively underestimated, not only with regard to colon cancer.” Obesity is also considered a proven risk factor for other types of cancer such as breast cancer.
There are many cancer risk factors that you can influence. Statistically speaking, people with a healthy lifestyle are less likely to get cancer. According to the Cancer Information Service of the German Cancer Research Center, the following measures are therefore important:
And: With a healthy lifestyle you can not only prevent cancer, but also other diseases. These include, for example, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.