Look Who it Was Random video

Healthy Lifestyle a Natural Enemy of Colon Cancer

506 views · Published 14 August 2015 · 1:55 · Indexed 31 October 2026

Channel: Lee Health · 2015 · Science & Technology

Watch on YouTube

Most days Monica Harmon is right here, pedaling away.

“We do this an hour,” says Harmon. 

She has many miles behind her, not to mention years.

“85 years old,” says Harmon. 

Her good habits have served her well. She exercises, watches her weight, eats vegetables and makes a point to get fiber in her diet. All things experts find go a long way in preventing colon cancer, the second most common cancer in the US.

“It is prevalent in this country because some of the risk factors are also prevalent in this country,” says Dr. Rajeev Prabakaran, who is a gastroenterologist on medical staff of Lee Memorial Health System. 

The GI community stresses prevention: colonoscopies playing an instrumental role in thwarting colorectal cancers.

“That’s one of the only screening tests that is available that is able to do that,” says Dr. Prabakaran. 

A colonoscopy looks for polyps that may turn cancerous and removes them, impacting disease at its initial stage. But research shows people can lower their risk even more by adopting a healthy lifestyle, which is a natural enemy of colon cancer.

“Healthy diets have been shown to reduce the risk of developing colon cancer. Grains and fibers can help reduce the toxin build-up in the body and help sort of get things out of the colon in a proper manner. Also physical activity,” says Dr. Prabakaran. 

Monica works all the angles, recently undergoing a colonoscopy.

“They found a little polyp, they took a biopsy and it’s okay,” says Harmon. 

Even if the news hadn’t been good, her wholesome habits may have saved her.

“People that have followed the healthy lifestyle and good nutrition prior to their diagnosis, their survival rates are higher,” says Dr. Prabakaran. 

Making a healthy lifestyle a cornerstone of colorectal health.

View More Health Matters video segments at leememorial.org/healthmatters/

Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we’ve been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.

Visit leememorial.org

More from this channel