Colon Cancer Causes and Risk Factors

You or a family member have been diagnosed with colon cancer and wants to know the cause of this cancer. Doctors do not know the exact cause of colon cancer, but know that usually starts as small growths inside the colon called polyps. These polyps may take years to grow large enough to be seen during a routine colonoscopy and then it takes several years for polyps to become cancerous.

Although the exact cause of colon cancer is unknown, several risk factors that can increase your chances of developing this cancer. A risk factor is something that may increase the chances of developing cancer or other disease. Some risk factors such as age, can not be changed, while others, such as diet, may modify and reduce risk. Risk factors for colon cancer in the age range of inherited diseases.

The first risk factor for colon cancer is the most common. It is his age. Approximately 90% of colon cancer cases are in people over 50 years. Many of these cases have no other risk factors, making this the most important factor in the development of this cancer. Therefore, many doctors suggest getting a colonoscopy as part of its annual review after 50 years.

Another risk factor for developing colon cancer is your family medical history and hereditary diseases that may affect the development of polyps in the colon. If a member of his immediate family (parents, siblings or children) has had colon cancer, which are more likely to develop it. The risk depends on how many families have, how old they were when they were diagnosed and if the history spans several generations. This is known as a strong family history of colon cancer may be caused by genetic mutations. These mutations are more common in certain ethnic groups such as Jews of Eastern European heritage. If this is your case, you may want to have a blood test to check for genetic mutations.

These genetic changes can cause a number of conditions such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), attenuated familial adenomatous polyposis (AFAP) and hereditary colon cancer nonpolyposis (HNPCC). All these genetic conditions can develop into colon cancer if left untreated. These conditions are rare and few people diagnosed with colon cancer actually have.

Your medical history also contributes to their risk of developing colon cancer. Your risk is higher if you have any type of cancer in the past. Large polyps, even after removal, you can increase your chances of developing colon cancer. There are certain diseases that may increase your risk of colon cancer, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

The final – and easier to change – risk factors are diet, exercise and habits. A high-fat, high calorie, high protein diet has been shown to increase the chances of developing colon cancer. This type of diet can also contribute to another risk factor, weight. Lack of exercise also contributes to their risk. You can minimize these three risk factors, making some simple changes like eating more fruits and vegetables and the beginning of the year. These two changes will help you lose weight and improve your diet. Smoking and drinking also contribute to colon cancer risk. Some studies have shown that smoking increases the risk of developing colon cancer. Alcoholics are also at higher risk of colon cancer due to alcohol consumption. Studies have shown that drinking more than 2 drinks a day increases the risk of colon cancer.