When considering your risk for developing breast or colon cancer, you may be concerned about your diet. Diets that are high in saturated fats and low in fiber may make you more likely to develop cancer. Red meat is often high in saturated fat, and for this and other reasons, may raise your risk for breast and colon cancers.
Red Meat and Cancer
According to a 2006 study led by Dr. Eunyoung Cho from Harvard Medical School in Boston, women who ate more than 1.5 servings of red meat daily were 97 percent more likely than those who ate meat fewer than three times weekly to develop breast cancer. The reason for this may be linked to the hormones in meat. A year later, Dr. Cho discovered that eating choline, which is present in red meat, may make the colon more susceptible to potentially cancer-causing polyps.
Other Risk Factors
Both colon and breast cancers are more likely as you age; you are more susceptible to develop either of these diseases if you are over age 50. You may also be more likely to develop these cancers if you have a family history of either. If you have or have had inflammatory bowel disease or colorectal polyps, you may be at increased risk for colon cancer. If you have had breast cancer in the past, or if you have particularly dense breasts, you may have a greater chance of developing breast cancer. Obesity may also raise your risk of developing cancer.
Dietary Recommendations
To help prevent colon cancer, eat foods containing fiber when you do eat red meat. Good sources include raw fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Eating more plant foods can help prevent both breast and colon cancer, as these contain antioxidants, which are nutrients that fight against cancer-causing cells. They also contain relatively low amounts of fat, reducing your risk of obesity, which is a risk factor for cancer. Eat red meat only occasionally, instead focusing on lean sources of protein, such as poultry, fish, legumes, seeds and nuts.
Cancer Screening Recommendations
Besides eating less red meat and reducing your risk factors when you can, the best way to prevent death caused by colon or breast cancer is to comply with recommended screenings. Talk to your doctor to determine if the recommendations are right for you, or if you need to be screened more often. The American Cancer Society advises getting a yearly mammogram beginning at age 40, and monthly breast self-exams beginning in your 20s. When you turn 50, talk to your doctor about the type of colorectal screening you should have done, and how often. Options include a flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years, a colonoscopy every 10 years and fecal occult blood tests every year.
References
- Drugs.com: Red Meat, Dairy Nutrient May Raise Colon Cancer Risk
- BreastCancer.org: Red meat may increase breast cancer risk
- HelpGuide: The Anti-Cancer Diet
- American Cancer Society: Guidelines for the Early Detection of Cancer
- American Cancer Society: Colorectal Cancer Early Detection
- American Cancer Society: What are the Risk Factors for Breast Cancer?
