While colorectal cancer screenings are generally recommended for people who are 50 years of age or older, those who have a personal or family history of colorectal cancer, pre-cancerous colorectal polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, breast, uterine or endometrial cancer may need to be screened before age 50. Talk to your health care provider about your personal and family medical history and decided when the best time is to begin screening. Eat a low-fat diet high in fruits and vegetables. While recent research has found that fruits and vegetables may not prevent colorectal cancer, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables provides overall health benefits and is still recommended. A single study can not provide conclusive evidence about the value of fruits and vegetables to colorectal cancer prevention.
More research needs to be completed before a definitive answer can be found.
Reduce your intake of red meat by two servings per week. Eat foods rich in folate such as leafy green vegetables and breakfast cereals. While regular screening tests can help prevent colorectal cancer, they can also help detect the disease in its earliest, most treatable stages. Normally screening tests are generally recommended for those who are age 50 or older. However, personal and family history may change that guideline.