An estimated 148,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colon cancer in 2006. Having a close relative with colon cancer or an adenoma (noncancerous growth) clearly marks you as someone who needs to be extra watchful. Lack of family history, however, is no reprieve. Seventy-five percent of colon cancer patients seem to have no inherited risk.

Fortunately, many of the factors that increase colon cancer risk are habits you can change. Studies show that change of habit does change risk.

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