Rates of colorectal cancer have declined in people over 65 but doubled among people under 50 in the last few decades. By 2030 it’s expected to be the leading cancer-related death in this age group.

In today’s episode, gastrointestinal cancer and prevention specialist, Dr. Andy Chan, explains how changes in the gut microbiome could be to blame.

Dr. Chan discusses the critical role your diet plays in cancer risk, how your gut microbiome can influence the development of colon cancer and the steps you can take to lower your risk.

Dr. Andy Chan is a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Program Director for Gastroenterology training at Massachusetts General Hospital.

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Timecodes:

00:00 Introduction

04:00 What is colon cancer?

05:20 How does cancer develop?

08:50 How common is colon cancer?

11:00 Demographics and shifting trends

14:00 Leading cause of cancer death for men under 50

15:32 Why are cancer rates rising in younger people

17:10 The role of diet and obesity

19:40 Does alcohol have an impact?

21:10 What is metabolic health and why does it matter?

25:10 Gut health and colon cancer 

27:50 Evidence from animal studies

33:43 Why overuse of antibiotics can be harmful 

38:15 Screening recommendations and methods

44:40 Can changing your diet reduce risk?

49:50 Should we avoid red meat?

53:28 Does physical activity reduce risk?

Books by our ZOE Scientists:

• Every Body Should Know This by Dr Federica Amati
• Food For Life by Prof. Tim Spector
• Fibre Fuelled by Dr Will Bulsiewicz

Free resources from ZOE:

• Live Healthier: Top 10 Tips From ZOE Science & Nutrition 
• Gut Guide - for a healthier microbiome in weeks

Mentioned in today’s episode:

• Influence of the Gut Microbiome, Diet, and Environment on Risk of Colorectal Cancer, from Gastroenterology
• Reducing Risk for Colorectal Cancer, from Center for Disease Control & Prevention
• Colorectal cancer statistics, 2017, from CA Cancer Journal
• Association Between the Sulfur Microbial Diet and Risk of Colorectal Cancer, from Gastroenterology and Hepatology 
• Fusobacterium nucleatum and colorectal cancer: From phenomenon to mechanism, from Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology  

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Episode transcripts are available here.