Widespread habit may raise colorectal cancer risk more than you think

Colorectal cancer is now officially the leading cause of cancer-related death among men and women 50 and younger, according to research from the American Cancer Society.

While some risk factors — like age, family history and genetics — can’t be controlled, there are some lifestyle behaviors that can increase the chances of the disease.

One of those is drinking alcohol, which has been linked to an increased risk of at least six different types of cancer. 

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The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies alcoholic beverages as a Group 1 carcinogen, which means there is strong, sufficient evidence that it causes cancer in humans.

Dr. Tereza Cristina Sardinha, MD, chief of colon and rectal surgery services at Catholic Health on Long Island, New York, confirmed that alcohol is a well-known risk factor for all cancers, but particularly those of the gastrointestinal tract.

"The alcohol, or ethanol, will metabolize and break down into acetaldehyde," she shared with Fox News Digital. "This metabolism of alcohol is very toxic to the DNA of the cell, which over time can lead to the development of cancer."

Alcohol also changes the microbiome of the gut, which is another strong factor in cancer risk, according to Sardinha.

"The microbiome has a significant effect on many pathogens in the colon and rectum, and diet and alcohol definitely affect the types of bacteria in your gut."

When the gut’s "first line of defense" is disrupted, it can trigger a series of changes — particularly DNA damage, inflammation and oxidative stress within cells, the doctor said. 

"These processes are closely linked to cancer development, which is why alcohol is considered a carcinogen."

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The relationship between alcohol and colorectal cancer risk is "dose-dependent," she said.

"Patients who drink regularly for a long period of time, meaning at least 10 years, will have a lifetime increase in the development of colorectal cancer."

Research shows that for those who drink at least two drinks per day — which is considered "moderate consumption," the doctor said — the lifetime risk of colorectal cancer will increase by at least 25%.

A heavier drinker, consuming more than two drinks a day, will have an exponentially greater risk. 

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"What really makes the difference is not only the volume, but the frequency," Sardinha said. "I just saw one of my patients who I operated on last week and she drinks six beers a day, and she developed colon cancer. She's not morbidly obese, she's not a smoker. The only risk factor she has is alcohol."

The doctor advises her patients to avoid alcohol, "or at least minimize intake."

If someone stops drinking, the risk won’t disappear immediately, the doctor noted.

"It takes about an average of 10 years to know if cancer risk decreased or not," she said. "But we do know that if you continue drinking, your risk will definitely increase."

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"That’s why we recommend that patients stop drinking or exponentially decrease their intake, in the same way we tell them to exercise and increase fruits and vegetables in their diet."

Sardinha pointed out that alcohol isn’t the only culprit. 

"Not all heavy drinkers develop cancer, so there has to be some other mechanism that plays a role," she said.

And not all types of alcohol are equal in terms of colorectal cancer risk, according to Dr. Nathan Goodyear, integrative medicine physician at Williams Cancer Institute in California.

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"The negative impact of spirits (hard liquor) is greater than beer, which is more than wine," he told Fox News Digital. 

A Danish study also found that wine consumption was associated with a lower risk of death, while beer and spirits were not, Goodyear pointed out. Spirits had the highest risk, especially at three to five drinks per day. 

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"The effects of wine, beer and spirits were independent of each other," the doctor said. 

The context in which alcohol is consumed can also play a role, he noted.

"In the U.S., alcohol is often used in the context of addiction — another hit to keep the high," Goodyear said. "But in some communities, such as Sardina, Italy, and Ikaria, Greece, wine is part of the culture, social connections and community."

"Wine is taken outside the context of addiction, and taken within the context of a plant-based diet, social settings, daily movement, faith, community and life."

In addition to stopping or limiting alcohol intake, Sardinha shared other healthy lifestyle behaviors that have been shown to decrease the chances of colorectal cancer.

One "huge and well-established" factor is regular exercise, she said.

"If you don't exercise, if you don't move, you definitely increase your risk of colorectal cancer," she told Fox News Digital. "Even for patients who have been diagnosed with cancer, once they have surgery and are able to exercise, that will improve their long-term prognosis."

Smoking is another highly carcinogenic habit — and it’s a common myth that it’s only associated with lung cancer.

"Smoking is a risk factor for most cancers, and colorectal cancer is one of them," Sardinha said.  

Taking steps to address and prevent obesity is also a well-established way to minimize risk, as is adopting a healthy, high-fiber diet to promote proper bowel function, according to the doctor.

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"Diets that are lower in fiber are often more constipating — and therefore, if there's anything in the food that is carcinogenic, that is going to have more direct, prolonged contact with the bowel wall, with the cells, and increases the chances of DNA damage," she said.

"Obviously, we cannot change our family history — but those good lifestyle habits will make a difference in the risk of colorectal cancer."

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Wellness expert reveals surprising health benefits of daily cold exposure: 'Huge difference'

Wim Hof breaks down his three-pillar method for more energy, less stress

→ First case of severe mpox disease reported in major city

→ Deadly meningitis outbreak prompts college students to call for campus shutdown

→ Mom with no symptoms had colorectal cancer — and a rare surgery saved her life

→ Cigarette smoking plummets to historic single-digit low in U.S.

→ Male fertility rates decline as experts reveal health threats

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→ Study reveals surprising results after stopping GLP-1 weight-loss drugs

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Family pleads for help as teen faces life-threatening bone marrow failure

A New York City father is desperately seeking a donor to save his teenage son’s life.

Max Uribe, now 15 and a high-school freshman, has just weeks until he will need to be hospitalized with a rare blood disorder that could lead to a deadly cancer.

"Max was just 6 when we first noticed there was something wrong with his blood counts," his father, Juan Uribe, told Fox News Digital. "At the time, we thought it was due to a viral infection, but they never fully recovered back to their normal level."

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In December 2024, Max’s condition grew worse, and he was diagnosed with clonal cytopenia, a condition involving the blood and bone marrow.

"All three of his blood counts are low — red, white and platelets," Uribe said. 

In August 2025, another bone marrow biopsy revealed that Max is on a path to bone marrow failure, creating an urgent need for a stem cell transplant.

"The disease has continued to progress, as his blood counts continue to drop, and therefore, we have to take him to transplant in May of this year," Uribe said.

MOM WITH NO SYMPTOMS HAD STAGE 4 COLORECTAL CANCER — AND A RARE SURGERY SAVED HER LIFE

If left untreated, Max’s condition could lead to MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome), a type of blood cancer, and from there possibly into acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

A bone marrow match must have a specific type of HLA (human leukocyte antigen), which are proteins found on the surface of most cells in the body, according to the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP).

The closer the donor’s HLA markers are to the patient’s, the more likely the body will accept the new cells without a high risk of complications.

People from the same ethnic background are more likely to share similar HLA types, meaning a patient is most likely to find a compatible donor among individuals with similar ancestry, per the NMDP.

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Non-Hispanic White patients have a 79% chance of a perfect match. That drops to 49% for Hispanic/Latino patients, 29% for Black patients and even lower for mixed ancestries, the NMDP reports.

Because Max is a "very rare combination" of half-Colombian from his father and a mix of Italian, British and German from his mother, his path to a perfect match is proving much more difficult, Uribe noted.

"For a kid like Max, with complex, mixed heritage, the math is devastating," he said. "The thinking is, we need large numbers if we're going to have that perfect match for my son."

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Max, who participates in competitive tennis and varsity wrestling, just had additional blood work done on Friday, which revealed that his counts continue to plummet.

"We're at the point where this is beginning to manifest a bit more, which is why the urgency is so critical," Uribe said.

If a donor is not secured by Max's hospitalization in May, the medical team will have to proceed with a partial match, which is not ideal for a number of reasons.

"The survival rate is meaningfully lower with a partial match, and there's more risk of graft versus host disease (GVHD), which could lead to complications in the process," Uribe said. With GVHD, the donor cells begin to attack the body.

To help prevent this with a partial match, Max would likely need chemotherapy and immunosuppressants for a longer period of time, which could weaken his immune system.

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Anyone interested in donating can order a free test kit on the Team Max website. The kit includes a quick cheek swab that is sent back to the lab to determine whether someone is a match.

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Needle-free diabetes management could be on the horizon, study suggests

Oral insulin could one day replace injections for people with diabetes, new scientific discoveries suggest.

Researchers from Kumamoto University in Japan have announced the development of an insulin pill to help lower blood sugar.

For diabetics, insulin is typically administered via injection, but the pill would offer a non-invasive treatment option.

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"Insulin injections remain a daily burden for many patients," said Associate Professor Shingo Ito, a researcher in the study's press release. "Our peptide-based platform offers a new route to deliver insulin orally, and may be applicable to long-acting insulin formulations and other injectable biologics."

The study, published in the journal Molecular Pharmaceutics, tested the delivery of oral insulin by building a carrier peptide called DNP-V. This peptide helps to transport insulin through the small intestine, where protein drug absorption is usually poor.

In diabetic mice models, the researchers administered the peptide by mouth with zinc-stabilized insulin, which was formulated with zinc ions to make it more stable, according to the study.

The result was a rapid and significant drop in blood glucose, as well as a sustained (longer-term) decrease. The mice’s blood sugar was reduced to near-normal levels.

When DNP-V was attached directly to insulin, the results showed enhanced absorption in the intestines and a similar glucose-lowering effect, the researchers noted.

The treatment was effective in different diabetes models, significantly reducing blood sugar spikes after meals with just one dose per day.

The findings suggest that DNP peptides could serve as flexible, adaptable platforms for delivering large-molecule drugs by mouth, the authors concluded in the study abstract.

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"This technology can simply and effectively convert injectable biopharmaceuticals into orally administrable forms, offering a promising path to practical, patient-friendly oral therapies," they wrote.

Although the researchers are optimistic about the findings translating to larger therapeutic models, they noted that the results in mice do not guarantee the same outcome in humans, and that more research is needed.

Dr. Marc Siegel commented on this development, noting that oral insulin could make a big difference in healthcare.

"Insulin use, especially in type 1 diabetes, is sometimes difficult to regulate by injection," Siegel, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. "Oral use would have major advantages."

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He added, "This is very promising provided that it works in humans, which is a big 'if.'"

Fox News Digital reached out to the study authors for comment.

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'Ice man' shares one daily habit that could boost wellness and brainpower

The practice of combining cold exposure and breathwork — known as the Wim Hof Method — has gained popularity as a wellness practice, with some research suggesting benefits for stress, energy and mental clarity, though evidence for treating chronic disease remains limited.

And now, a recent study published in the journal Nature appears to support the technique's potential health benefits.

The research included more than 400 healthy adults averaging 37 years of age, who practiced either the Wim Hof Method (WHM) or mindfulness meditation daily for about one month.

BENEFITS OF COLD WATER: HEALTH GURU AND EXTREME ATHLETE WIM HOF SAYS WE HAVE THE ‘POWER WITHIN’ TO HEAL DISEASE

The WHM practitioners were split into in-person and at-home groups, where one did ice baths and the other took cold showers.

The participants reported their energy, mental clarity, and stress and anxiety levels. The researchers also measured heart rate, breathing and sleep.

Participants in the breathwork and cold group had greater improvements in energy, mental clarity and ability to handle stress, benefits that were most noticeable right after their daily practice.

6 PILLARS OF A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE IN 2026, FROM EXPERTS ON STAYING YOUNG

The study also found that meditation reduced stress early on, but the WHM showed gradual improvements in stress levels over a longer time period. Differences in sleep, cognition and heart health measures were more subtle.

The short 29-day study period could pose a limitation in measuring long-term impacts, the researchers acknowledged. 

The participants also knew which group they were placed in, which could have influenced the self-reported results.

"I felt that this was going to make a huge difference in people," Wim Hof told Fox News Digital. "I had a lot of anecdotal evidence, but that doesn't make it scientific."

The Wim Hof Method is comprised of three pillars: cold, breathing and mindset.

"It is a combination of the three … and when they come together, they reinforce each other and become stronger," he said. "Use the cold well, and you bring the immune system, the energy system and your cardiovascular system to an optimum [state]."

YOUR BEDROOM TEMPERATURE COULD BE PUTTING YOUR HEART IN SERIOUS DANGER, STUDY WARNS

Breathing has been shown to lower inflammation, which is the main driver of disease, according to Wim Hof. Research has also shown that a change in mindset can re-circuit the brain to handle stress more efficiently.

Lowering stress levels is crucial to improving health, he noted, as high cortisol (the body’s stress hormone) and inflammation are drivers of chronic disease.

Lead study author Dr. Jemma King, of the University of Queensland School of Psychology in Australia, said she entered the world’s largest Wim Hof study with a "healthy dose of scientific skepticism."

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"People are really anxious, people are really burnt out, and the world is very destabilized at the moment," she told Fox News Digital. "People are increasingly dependent on healthcare systems, and profits keep growing and people keep getting sicker."

"We're glued to screens; we're reaching for pills every time life feels hard. And so we really wanted to [find out] — is there a better way?"

Although meditation is an important tool for some, an alternative method that involves more activity may be a better option for those with "busy brains," according to the researcher.

"You're not sitting there just accepting energy," she said. "You can actually face it head on, and you can overcome your aversion to the cold, which is very invigorating."

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"If you choose to do small doses of the right kind of stress, it doesn't break you down. It actually makes you stronger," King added.

Scientifically, breathwork can help flush the brain of toxins, clearing mental fog while increasing levels of the beneficial chemicals adrenaline and dopamine, she noted.

"We also found something really shocking and unexpected: The people doing the Wim Hof Method became more willing to speak up at work," King shared. "They were more likely to raise hard issues or have a voice or take interpersonal risks."

"If you train yourself to step into the cold water every morning, you kind of override that voice that says, ‘Don't do that,’" she added. "This bravery, this toughness that you train every morning, starts to show up everywhere else in your life."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

For beginners, Hof recommends simply stepping into a cold shower at home, which activates the cardiovascular system and boosts energy.

"Take the cold shower, go into that breathing, and suddenly you'll feel an innate power awakening," he said. "That is the nervous system, and you have control over that."

Cold exposure may not be safe for everyone, especially those with certain cardiovascular conditions, such as abnormal heart rhythms, heart disease or Raynaud’s syndrome, according to Harvard Health.

Those with underlying conditions should get a physician’s approval before embarking on a cold plunge or another mode of cold exposure therapy, experts advise.

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"[For those who] have conditions, I say start with breathing alone," Hof recommended. "Breathing trains the nervous system like weightlifting trains the muscles."

"Know that you are built to have willful control over your health, happiness and strength," he added.

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Deadly meningitis outbreak prompts college students to call for campus shutdown

Students at the University of Kent in the U.K. are calling for a shutdown in light of an active meningitis outbreak.

The demands follow multiple alerts from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) about the outbreak.

As of March 18, the agency had announced a total of 15 confirmed cases of meningococcal disease, 12 additional potential cases and two deaths in Kent, a county in the southeast of England. The University of Kent is located in Canterbury, a historic city within Kent.

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Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

It can cause two life-threatening conditions: meningitis (infection of the brain and spinal cord lining) and a bloodstream infection called septicemia, which can lead to sepsis, per the above source.

Even with prompt treatment, meningococcal disease can become fatal within hours. Health agencies report a typical fatality rate of about 10% to 15%.

In response to the outbreak, students at the University of Kent launched an online petition calling for campus to be closed.

MEASLES OUTBREAK REACHES A MAJOR SOUTH CAROLINA COLLEGE CAMPUS

"Students at the University of Kent are increasingly concerned about reports of meningitis and sepsis cases affecting members of the campus community," the petition states, as posted on Change.org. "The confirmation of two deaths, along with reports of hospitalizations, has caused understandable concern among students and staff."

The petition expressed concern that in-person exams, lectures and other campus activities are continuing amid the outbreak.

"Many students feel that they are being placed in a difficult position: attend exams and in-person activities during a period of heightened concern or prioritize their health and well-being while risking potential academic consequences," the petition states. "Students should not feel forced to choose between protecting their well-being and continuing their education."

"Students deserve to feel safe on campus," the petition concluded. "We are therefore calling on the University of Kent to consider precautionary steps to prioritize the well-being of students and staff during this situation.

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Preventative antibiotic treatment is being distributed to University of Kent students, according to UKHSA, as well as to those who visited Club Chemistry, a nightclub in Canterbury, between March 5 and March 7.

"A vaccination program has started for students and staff who live in or work in the halls at the University of Kent Canterbury Campus — approximately 5,000 students," the agency noted.

Fox News Digital reached out to the university requesting comment.

Described by the CDC as a "rare but severe illness," meningococcal disease most commonly causes symptoms of meningitis, including fever, stiff neck, headache, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light or altered mental status.

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It can also cause meningococcal bloodstream infection, which is marked by fever and chills, vomiting, fatigue, vomiting, cold hands and feet, severe aches and pains, diarrhea, rapid breathing or a dark purple rash, the CDC notes. 

Meningitis infections can spread through close contact with someone who has meningococcal disease, "generally, through things like coughing or kissing, but it can also spread by being in the same household or room for extended periods of time with an individual who is infected," Dr. Barbara Bawer, a primary care physician at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, previously told Fox News Digital.

Those who have symptoms of the disease should see their primary care physician immediately, according to the doctor.

As symptoms tend to progress quickly and can be life-threatening, it is essential that the patient receives antibiotics immediately.

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"It can become fatal or dangerous very quickly — within hours — for any individual, especially if antibiotics are not initiated in a timely manner," Bawer warned. "Even with antibiotics, meningitis can be fatal."

She added, "This is often due to misdiagnosis, because meningitis can mimic many other illnesses."

Most cases of meningococcal disease worldwide are caused by six variations of the Neisseria meningitidis bacteria — A, B, C, W, X and Y.

In the U.S., the most common variations are B, C, W and Y. There are vaccines available to protect against types A, C, W and Y (the MenACWY vaccine) and type B (MenB vaccine), according to the CDC.

"MenACWY vaccines are routinely recommended for adolescents and for people with other risk factors or underlying medical conditions, including HIV," the agency previously stated.

To reduce risk, Bawer recommends that people get vaccinated with the current meningitis vaccine as recommended by the CDC and avoid being in very closed-in spaces with others as much as possible.

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"If you know of someone who has meningitis in your household or you’ve come in contact with their oral secretions (i.e., you kissed them), then you should get preventative antibiotics," the doctor told Fox News Digital. 

This is even more important for those who are immune-compromised or who are on medications that decrease the immune system, Bawer added.

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One daily habit may help you fight stress and think more clearly, study suggests

The practice of combining cold exposure and breathwork — known as the Wim Hof Method — has gained popularity as a wellness practice, with some research suggesting benefits for stress, energy and mental clarity, though evidence for treating chronic disease remains limited.

And now, a recent study published in the journal Nature appears to support the technique's potential health benefits.

The research included more than 400 healthy adults averaging 37 years of age, who practiced either the Wim Hof Method (WHM) or mindfulness meditation daily for about one month.

BENEFITS OF COLD WATER: HEALTH GURU AND EXTREME ATHLETE WIM HOF SAYS WE HAVE THE ‘POWER WITHIN’ TO HEAL DISEASE

The WHM practitioners were split into in-person and at-home groups, where one did ice baths and the other took cold showers.

The participants reported their energy, mental clarity, and stress and anxiety levels. The researchers also measured heart rate, breathing and sleep.

Participants in the breathwork and cold group had greater improvements in energy, mental clarity and ability to handle stress, benefits that were most noticeable right after their daily practice.

6 PILLARS OF A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE IN 2026, FROM EXPERTS ON STAYING YOUNG

The study also found that meditation reduced stress early on, but the WHM showed gradual improvements in stress levels over a longer time period. Differences in sleep, cognition and heart health measures were more subtle.

The short 29-day study period could pose a limitation in measuring long-term impacts, the researchers acknowledged. 

The participants also knew which group they were placed in, which could have influenced the self-reported results.

"I felt that this was going to make a huge difference in people," Wim Hof told Fox News Digital. "I had a lot of anecdotal evidence, but that doesn't make it scientific."

The Wim Hof Method is comprised of three pillars: cold, breathing and mindset.

"It is a combination of the three … and when they come together, they reinforce each other and become stronger," he said. "Use the cold well, and you bring the immune system, the energy system and your cardiovascular system to an optimum [state]."

YOUR BEDROOM TEMPERATURE COULD BE PUTTING YOUR HEART IN SERIOUS DANGER, STUDY WARNS

Breathing has been shown to lower inflammation, which is the main driver of disease, according to Wim Hof. Research has also shown that a change in mindset can re-circuit the brain to handle stress more efficiently.

Lowering stress levels is crucial to improving health, he noted, as high cortisol (the body’s stress hormone) and inflammation are drivers of chronic disease.

Lead study author Dr. Jemma King, of the University of Queensland School of Psychology in Australia, said she entered the world’s largest Wim Hof study with a "healthy dose of scientific skepticism."

SIMPLE DAILY HABIT MAY HELP EASE DEPRESSION MORE THAN MEDICATION, RESEARCHERS SAY

"People are really anxious, people are really burnt out, and the world is very destabilized at the moment," she told Fox News Digital. "People are increasingly dependent on healthcare systems, and profits keep growing and people keep getting sicker."

"We're glued to screens; we're reaching for pills every time life feels hard. And so we really wanted to [find out] — is there a better way?"

Although meditation is an important tool for some, an alternative method that involves more activity may be a better option for those with "busy brains," according to the researcher.

"You're not sitting there just accepting energy," she said. "You can actually face it head on, and you can overcome your aversion to the cold, which is very invigorating."

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER

"If you choose to do small doses of the right kind of stress, it doesn't break you down. It actually makes you stronger," King added.

Scientifically, breathwork can help flush the brain of toxins, clearing mental fog while increasing levels of the beneficial chemicals adrenaline and dopamine, she noted.

"We also found something really shocking and unexpected: The people doing the Wim Hof Method became more willing to speak up at work," King shared. "They were more likely to raise hard issues or have a voice or take interpersonal risks."

"If you train yourself to step into the cold water every morning, you kind of override that voice that says, ‘Don't do that,’" she added. "This bravery, this toughness that you train every morning, starts to show up everywhere else in your life."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES

For beginners, Hof recommends simply stepping into a cold shower at home, which activates the cardiovascular system and boosts energy.

"Take the cold shower, go into that breathing, and suddenly you'll feel an innate power awakening," he said. "That is the nervous system, and you have control over that."

Cold exposure may not be safe for everyone, especially those with certain cardiovascular conditions, such as abnormal heart rhythms, heart disease or Raynaud’s syndrome, according to Harvard Health.

Those with underlying conditions should get a physician’s approval before embarking on a cold plunge or another mode of cold exposure therapy, experts advise.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

"[For those who] have conditions, I say start with breathing alone," Hof recommended. "Breathing trains the nervous system like weightlifting trains the muscles."

"Know that you are built to have willful control over your health, happiness and strength," he added.

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