Colorectal Cancer and Functional Medicine: Can We Do Better?

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the world. In the United States, it is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths.

CRC is a preventable disease, yet it still claims the lives of over 50,000 Americans every year. The good news is that you can take steps to lower your risk of developing CRC. Focusing on the options available via functional medicine offers the best chance for long-term success.

Functional medicine is a system of healthcare that looks at the whole person, not just the symptoms. It takes into account lifestyle, diet, and environmental factors that can contribute to disease.

Functional medicine practitioners use a variety of modalities to treat their patients, including nutrition, lifestyle changes, and supplements. The goal is to find and treat the underlying causes of disease, not just the symptoms.

What Causes CRC?

There are many factors that contribute to the development of CRC.

Genetics play a role, as do age and race. Family history of CRC, personal history of inflammatory bowel disease, or family history of a hereditary CRC syndrome such as Lynch syndrome is all considered high-risk factors for colon and rectum cancers.

While early-onset CRC in patients younger than 50 years of age accounts for approximately 10% of current diagnoses, most CRC cases are diagnosed in adults aged 50 years or older. African Americans have the highest incidence and mortality rates of any racial group in the United States for both colon and rectum cancers.

There are a variety of lifestyle factors that can contribute to the development of CRC. These include a diet high in red or processed meats, a diet low in fruits and vegetables, obesity, smoking, heavy alcohol use, and lack of exercise.

Sedentary lifestyles have been shown to increase the risk of CRC development risks by 25% (colon) and 7% (rectum). When individuals engage in regular physical activity, they can reduce their risk of developing CRC and enjoy various other health benefits.

Exposure to certain chemicals, such as those found in cosmetics, hair dyes, and detergents, may also increase your risk of developing CRC.

How Can Functional Medicine Help?

While some risk factors for CRC are out of our control, there are lifestyle choices we can make that can help lower our risk. A healthy diet, regular exercise, and avoiding tobacco products are all essential things we can do to reduce our risk of developing CRC.

Functional medicine practitioners take these lifestyle choices one step further by looking at the whole person and addressing the root cause of the disease.

A functional medicine practitioner will take into account a person's unique genetic make-up, lifestyle, and the environment when designing a treatment plan. They may recommend specific dietary changes, supplements, or lifestyle modifications based on these individual factors.

For example, someone with a family history of CRC may be advised to eat a diet rich in fiber and antioxidants or to take a daily probiotic supplement. Someone struggling to quit smoking may be referred to a smoking cessation program or given acupuncture treatments to help with nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

When combined with other cancer prevention strategies, such as regular screenings and early detection, a functional medicine approach offers the best chance for preventing CRC.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with CRC, functional medicine can also help. Functional medicine practitioners work with patients to address the side effects of treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation.

They may also recommend specific dietary changes, supplements, or lifestyle modifications to help improve quality of life and increase the effectiveness of treatments.

Fight Back Against CRC with Functional Medicine

If you are interested in learning more about functional medicine and how it can help you prevent or treat CRC, please contact Dr. Khan at Internal Healing and Wellness.

As The Woodlands' leading functional medicine practitioner, Dr. Khan has helped many patients prevent and treat a variety of chronic diseases, including CRC.

Dr. Khan is a functional medicine practitioner who uses a variety of modalities to treat his patients. These include nutrition, lifestyle changes, and supplements. The goal is to find and treat the underlying causes of disease, not just the symptoms. Contact Dr. Khan to learn more about how functional medicine can help you prevent or treat CRC.