Chadwick Boseman dies of colon cancer, how to prevent it? All pages

KOMPAS.com – Hollywood actor Chadwick Boseman passed away on Saturday (8/29/2020) local time. Before he died, Chadwick Boseman’s body weight was said to have dropped to 23 kilograms due to his colon cancer.

In fact, weight loss can be a sign or symptom of colon cancer. Also, symptoms of bowel cancer may include a change in persistent bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or a change in stool consistency.

Then rectal bleeding or blood in your stools and persistent stomach upset, such as cramps, gas, or pain, and a feeling that your intestines are not completely empty.

According to reports from the Mayo Clinic, doctors are still not sure what causes colon cancer.

Also read: Are there any early warnings about colon cancer?

In general, colon cancer begins when healthy cells in the large intestine undergo changes (mutations) in their DNA. The cell’s DNA contains a series of instructions that tell the cell what to do.

Healthy cells grow and divide regularly to maintain normal body function. However, when the cell’s DNA becomes damaged and cancerous, cells continue to divide even when new cells are not needed. As a result, cells accumulate and form tumors.

Over time, cancer cells can grow to attack and destroy surrounding normal tissue. And cancer cells can travel to other parts of the body to form deposits there (metastasize).

Factors or risks that can increase the risk of colon cancer, such as a family history of colon cancer, diabetes, being over 50 years old, having inflammatory bowel conditions, and a personal history of colorectal cancer.

In addition, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, a diet low in fiber and high in fat can also be risk factors. Beyond that, African Americans were found to have a higher risk of developing colon cancer than other races.

Also read: Learn about CAFs, the first causes of colon cancer spread

How to prevent?

Doctors recommend that most people consider colon cancer screening around age 50.

However, people at higher risk, such as those with a family history of colon cancer, should consider early detection.

Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Colon Cancer Risk

You can take steps early to reduce your risk of colon cancer by making changes in your daily life.

Complete the steps as follows:

1. Eat a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. The content of vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants they contain may play a role in cancer prevention. Choose a variety of fruits and vegetables to get a variety of vitamins and nutrients.

2. Limit your alcohol intake. If you choose to drink alcohol, limit the amount of alcohol you drink to no more than one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.

3. Stop smoking. Talk to your doctor about ways to quit smoking that might work.

4. Exercise almost every day of the week. Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes every day. If you are not idle, start slowly and gradually build up to 30 minutes. However, talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program.

5. Maintain a healthy weight. Try to maintain your weight by combining a healthy diet with daily exercise. If you feel like you need to lose weight, ask your doctor about healthy ways to do it.