[Selected risk factors and primary prevention of colorectal cancer].

Incidence rates of colorectal cancer vary around 20-fold between industrialized and developing countries. Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers and very important public health problem in the Western world. Each year about 7000 patients in Poland die from colorectal cancer. Most cases of this cancer are possibly related to lifestyle or environmental factors. It is estimated that about 13% of colorectal cancer is attributable to low physical activity, 12% to diet and about 10-15% to genetic susceptibility. The aim of this work was to analyze the relationship between diet, physical activity and colorectal cancer risk. Current data suggest that lifestyle modification including proper diet, regular physical activity and maintaining an appropriate body weight may lead to 50-75% decrease of colorectal cancer cases. Therefore, effective management should include effective educational programs including dietary and other lifestyle behavior guidelines as well as early diagnostic of colorectal cancer.