Let's face it, it's not always pleasant to talk about our colons -- but the bottom line is it's important, especially during Colon Cancer Awareness month in March, and the disease greatly impacts Latinas.

"Colorectal cancer is the 2nd leading cancer in Hispanic women, and the 3rd leading cause of cancer death among Hispanic women," Dr. Heather Greenlee who is the assistant professor of Epidemiology, Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, told the Latin Post. 

Columbia University is on a mission to help eradicate the disease and prevent recurrence through a research study and health initiative -- it's one of a small number of medical centers nationwide conducting a National Cancer Institute-funded research study offering nutrition counseling and free membership to a weight loss facility to help women who have had colon or rectal cancer reach a healthy body weight in one year.

"There are currently over 600,000 female colorectal cancer survivors in the U.S., and it is estimated that over half of these women are overweight," Columbia University points out. "Despite clear recommendations to increase their physical activity, only about one-third of cancer survivors engage in the recommended 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity at least five days per week."

A colon cancer survivor's life expectancy weighs heavily on one's body mass index (BMI). A diet high in vegetables, fruit, and fiber and low in fat as well as higher levels of physical activity can help combat and prevent recurrence of colon cancer as well as other cancers. 

"An estimated 57 percent of women diagnosed with colorectal cancer survive at least 10 years after their diagnosis. Recent data suggest that women with a lower body mass index (BMI < 25 kg/m2) have a higher 10-year survival rate, as do those with higher levels of physical activity and diets high in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated fat. But these are preliminary findings -- no completed clinical trials have yet tested the effects of weight loss via physical activity and dietary change on survival among overweight or obese colorectal cancer survivors."

"This is one of the first studies to test a community-based approach to helping colorectal cancer survivors achieve and maintain healthy weight loss through diet and physical activity," added Greenlee, who is also the principal investigator of the study.

What is involved in the study? 

According to Greenlee, women who volunteer for the study will get nutritional counseling over the phone for 12 months to trim their calorie intake and will get access to a local facility to participate in a fitness program at least three times per week. The fitness program features bidirectional, pneumatic resistance-training exercise combined with low-impact aerobic exercise for 30 minutes, a combination that may be more manageable for women who would hesitate to try more traditional types of cardiovascular exercise.

The mission of Colon Cancer Awareness Month has been supported by colon cancer awareness trailblazer Katie Couric, who lost her husband Jay to the disease over 15 years ago and shared her colonoscopy with millions on the TODAY show -- to the celebrities who have been impacted by, or lost their lives to the powerful disease, such as Pope John Paul II, Ronald Regan, Audrey Hepburn, the Bee Gees' Robin Gibb and Sharon Osbourne, among many others.

Now with the numerous studies, support, prevention initiatives and campaigns -- it's no longer taboo for colon talk -- it's a topic that has literally been right behind us all along.  

*To learn more about the study, contact Heather Greenlee, ND, PhD, hg2120@columbia.edu or 212-342-4130.