Colon cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States. Many researchers believe that interactions between diet, the intestinal microflora and the cells in the lining of the colon, together with genetic factors, may be what causes colon cancer to develop. Daily consumption of probiotics may help maintain a healthy intestinal microflora and promote a healthy environment. Another theory for the cause of colon cancer is that prolonged exposure to cancer-causing compounds in the colon may trigger the process. Although the evidence is not conclusive and more research is needed, probiotics may modulate several major intestinal functions potentially associated with the development of colon cancer.