Detection And Prevention

Talk with your patients about these risk factors for gastrointestinal cancer.

Finding gastrointestinal (GI) cancers early, when they’re most treatable, is your best defense against the disease. You can also make lifestyle choices to lower your risk. Find out if you’re at risk and what you can do.

Who Is At Risk For Gastrointestinal Cancer?

There are several risk factors that make it more likely for certain groups of people to get GI cancer. Some you can’t control, like having a personal or family history of cancer or inherited genetic syndromes. Being over age 55, African American or Hispanic American, or male also increases your risk for several types of GI cancer.

There are other risk factors you can work to control. These include smoking, being overweight or obese, and not keeping type 2 diabetes under control.

These factors don’t always cause cancer. If you want to improve your odds of preventing cancer, however, you can make lifestyle choices for a healthier GI system.

Work To Lower Your Risk

You can help to lower your risk of getting cancer with these healthy choices:

• Limit alcohol consumption to one drink a day or less
• Exercise at least 150 minutes a week
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Don’t smoke
• Eat a healthy diet

Learn More About Specific GI Cancers

Get additional information about risk factors, prevention, and screening for:

• Esophageal cancer
• Liver cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Stomach cancer