Although overall colorectal cancer rates are lower Native Americans than in whites, there are significant regional differences that show a marked increase in colorectal cancer in Alaskan Natives and Native Americans who live in the Northwest Plains.

Alaskan Natives and Alaskan Indians were twice as likely to have colorectal cancer as non-Hispanic whites, and five times as likely as Native Americans living in the Southwest.  Native Americans in the Northern Plains were diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer about 40 percent more often than whites.

Alaska natives also were diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancer almost twice as often as white Americans.

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Although physical activity reduces colon cancer risk, few Americans are aware that exercise can help prevent it.

Only 15 percent of people responding to the Health Information National Trends Survey listed physical activity as one way to reduce the chances of getting colon cancer.

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When minority men and women felt that they were being discriminated against by their health care providers, they were less likely to be screened for breast or colorectal cancer. Read the rest of this entry »

Marinating meat before grilling can reduce some carcinogens that are connected with colon polyps and cancer according to research from Kansas State University.

Food technology researchers marinated round steaks in three different commercial marinade mixes containing different spice blends including Caribbean, southwest, and herb.  They then grilled the steaks at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Read the rest of this entry »

Half of Americans over 50 have not been screened for colorectal cancer according to a new survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

The 2005 National Health Survey interviewed 31,000 adults, including 13,500 who were over 50.  It found that 50 percent of people over the age of 50 had been screened for colorectal cancer, but the other half had not.  While this was an improvement over the 43 percent screening rate in 2000, it was far from desirable according to the researchers who analyzed the information. Read the rest of this entry »