Oncologists Warn: Obesity and Inactivity Raise Colorectal Cancer Risk!

MADRID (EUROPA PRESS) – The Digestive Tumor Treatment Group (TTD) highlighted the significance of understanding risk factors that can elevate the likelihood of developing colorectal tumors, such as obesity and sedentary behavior, while advising the adoption of a healthy lifestyle.

On the occasion of World Colorectal Cancer Day, celebrated on March 31, specialists pointed out that unhealthy living habits could promote the occurrence of this digestive cancer. Embracing healthy behaviors, including maintaining a proper weight from an early age, can lower the risk of developing colorectal adenomas, they suggest.

Digestive cancers are the leading cause of cancer and highest in mortality in Spain. By 2025, colon and rectum cancers are projected to be the most frequently diagnosed cancers in Spain, with 44,573 new cases, according to data from the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology.

Facing these statistics, oncologists specializing in the research and treatment of digestive tumors like colorectal cancer indicate that obesity, physical inactivity, and an unhealthy diet—low in vegetables and fruits, high in pre-cooked and high-calorie foods—are known risk factors for more than a dozen types of tumors. These risk factors, along with others such as tobacco or alcohol, play a significant role in the onset of colorectal, stomach, esophagus, liver, gallbladder, or pancreatic cancers, among others.

Through the #SospechososHabituales campaign, TTD oncologists stress the need for a healthy lifestyle to minimize the risk of developing digestive tumors. “It’s a very preventable cancer. It is closely related to lifestyle habits, diet, physical exercise, obesity, and smoking,” states Fernando Rivera, head of the Medical Oncology Service at the University Hospital Marqués de Valdecilla in Santander and president of the TTD.

RISK FACTORS AND HEALTHY LIVING

Ruth Vera, head of the Medical Oncology Service at the University Hospital of Navarra and vice president of the TTD, believes it is crucial to raise public awareness that maintaining a healthy lifestyle, avoiding risk factors such as alcohol and tobacco, combined with regular physical activity, can prevent one in every three cancer deaths.

“Forty percent of all tumors can be prevented by adopting healthy lifestyle habits. Smoking alone is responsible for more than 30 percent of cancers. The link between alcohol and certain tumors is also clear, as well as the influence of overweight and sedentary lifestyles. These are clearly preventable factors, which would have a significant impact on cancer incidence,” Vera points out.

“The most advisable strategy is to start education at early ages. It’s difficult to change habits once they are deeply ingrained. Awareness of the importance of physical exercise, the harm of smoking habits, or alcoholism should be instilled as soon as children are able to understand and maintain educational efforts for as long as possible,” emphasizes the vice president of the TTD.

Similarly, Elena Élez, a medical oncologist at the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona and a member of the TTD board, emphasizes the importance of a healthy lifestyle. “Adopting healthy habits not only strengthens patients’ ability to overcome cancer from a physical standpoint but also enhances their psychological well-being and resilience. This holistic approach significantly increases their commitment and adherence to prescribed treatments,” she noted.

A study involving nearly 18,000 patients reveals that those who recall receiving advice on physical activity after a colorectal cancer diagnosis have higher levels of physical activity. However, less than a third of the patients remembered receiving such advice.

In this regard, “encouraging healthcare professionals working with colorectal cancer patients to provide advice on physical activity is justified and could contribute to improving outcomes in colorectal cancer survivors,” TTD representatives state.

Furthermore, they emphasize that scientific evidence shows that maintaining higher levels of physical activity before and after diagnosis is associated with better survival outcomes in at least 11 types of cancer. “In breast and colorectal cancers, greater reductions in mortality were observed with post-diagnosis physical activity compared to pre-diagnosis activity, supporting the global promotion of physical activity guidelines after a cancer diagnosis,” explain experts from the cooperative group specializing in digestive tumors.

“Oncologists’ recommendations on diet, exercise, and avoiding obesity are associated with positive changes in these habits, reinforcing the importance of addressing these issues as part of oncological care,” TTD experts affirm.

RESEARCH AND EARLY DIAGNOSIS

According to experts, research in colorectal cancer is crucial for improving prognosis and increasing cure rates for patients. Likewise, colorectal cancer screening programs are essential for detecting and removing premalignant lesions and achieving an early diagnosis of the disease, TTD insists.

“We have a secondary prevention measure, which is colorectal cancer screening, known as the fecal occult blood test, included in the National Health System’s portfolio of services. If the entire population participated, one in three deaths from this type of tumor could be prevented. Colorectal cancer is highly preventable,” states Rivera.

Specialists agree on the importance of being vigilant for any signs that may suggest colorectal cancer. These signs include blood in the stool, very hard or liquid stools, changes in stool color, pain or swelling in the lower abdomen after eating, unexplained weight loss, or increased fatigue. Being aware of these symptoms can be crucial for early detection.