Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide and the second most common cause of cancer death for men and women combined.
In Florida, nearly 13,000 new cases and over 4,000 deaths are projected for 2026, according to the American Cancer Society. Those numbers are more than statistics; they represent neighbors, friends and families across the state.
University of Florida experts believe those outcomes can change. UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) experts will host a free, one-hour webinar that starts at 12 noon, March 2, to teach you to live healthier, in hopes of reducing colorectal cancer risk.
In addition to living a healthier lifestyle, staying up to date with regular colorectal cancer screening is critical as a first-line defense against colorectal cancer, said Melissa Vilaro, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of family, youth, and community sciences.
Register here for the workshop.
With March marking National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, UF/IFAS Extension agents will focus on practical, evidence‑based ways to reduce your risk — because prevention and early detection remain some of the most powerful tools we have.
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“This webinar matters now more than ever,” said Josh Payne, a registered dietitian with UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County and one of the presenters at the webinar. “While colorectal cancer rates have declined in those 65 years and older, rates are on the rise among adults under 50.”
Colorectal cancer is projected to cause the second-highest number of cancer deaths in the United States in 2026. One of the most important aspects for people to take away is that prevention is possible with early detection and screening, but there are also resources available for screening and post-diagnosis, Payne said.
Suzanne Holloway, a Family and Consumer Sciences agent at UF/IFAS Extension Leon County, another webinar presenter, said many factors play a role in a person’s risk for colorectal cancer. Those include genetics, family history, current disease(s) and lifestyle.
“Now, you can’t change your age or genetics, but you can control your habits,” Holloway said. “You can eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and fiber; lower alcohol consumption and tobacco use, stay physically active and maintain a healthy weight.”
Holloway plans to cook for the webinar audience. During that demo, she’ll show viewers easy ways to incorporate more fiber into the foods they’re already eating.
Other topics to be covered at the one-hour workshop are:
- Avoiding late-stage cancer diagnosis with screening
- Nutrition (plant-based diet)
- Nutrition (protein, sugary drinks, alcohol)
- Physical activity, review and evaluation
Teaching nutrition for chronic disease prevention and management is part of UF’s Food is Medicine Initiative, bringing together science-based education and multidisciplinary research to improve Floridians’s health.
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