This week on Health Matters, Courtney Allison is joined by Dr. Alessandro Fichera, chief of colon and rectal surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. They discuss the recent rise of colorectal cancer in people under 50, and explore what might be one reason behind it—the eating habits of the typical Western diet.

Dr. Fichera offers health tips for lowering cancer risk. It turns out, there are simple steps we could all take to give our hard-working guts the support they need. From eating more natural fiber to staying hydrated, Dr. Fichera explains some surprising links between the choices we make about our lifestyle and the risk of colorectal cancer.

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Dr. Alessandro Fichera is Chief of the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Alessandro Fichera received his medical degree from Catholic University of Rome, Italy in 1989. Since then, he has studied, practiced, and taught colorectal surgery across the United States: taking prestigious positions and leading departments of surgery in Chicago, Seattle, Dallas, and beyond. He serves on the ASCRS Executive Council and the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation National Scientific Advisory Committee.

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Health Matters is your weekly dose of health and wellness information, from the leading experts. Join host Courtney Allison to get news you can use in your own life. New episodes drop each Wednesday.

If you are looking for practical health tips and trustworthy information from world-class doctors and medical experts you will enjoy listening to Health Matters. Health Matters was created to share stories of science, care, and wellness that are happening every day at NewYork-Presbyterian, one of the nation’s most comprehensive, integrated academic healthcare systems. In keeping with NewYork-Presbyterian’s long legacy of medical breakthroughs and innovation, Health Matters features the latest news, insights, and health tips from our trusted experts; inspiring first-hand accounts from patients and caregivers; and updates on the latest research and innovations in patient care, all in collaboration with our renowned medical schools, Columbia and Weill Cornell Medicine. To learn more visit: https://healthmatters.nyp.org