Causes and risk factors in colorectal cancer

There are several risk factors for colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum). Some  are linked to diet and lifestyle; others are genetic, though not all such genetic risk factors run in the family.

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Hereditary factors: Colon Cancer

 
A family history of colorectal cancer may indicate an inherited disease, and there are some medical conditions which may increase the risk of colorectal cancer too. Among these causes are the hereditary adenomatous polyps such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), Gardner's syndrome, and Turcot's syndrome. There are also some hereditary cancer syndromes which do not involve polyps such as Lynch's syndrome. These diseases are carried down from parent to child because of specific genetic anomalies, and can be entirely asymptomatic. The probability that a parent may pass on such a mutant gene to their children is 50%, with girls and boys being equally at risk.
 

Non-hereditary factors: Colon Cancer

 
There are also many non-hereditary factors in colorectal cancer.
 
Many studies have shown that a calorie-rich diet that includes a lot of animal fat, but not much dietary fiber is associated with an increased risk of the disease; conversely, a diet rich in fiber from fruits and vegetables seems to play a protective role.
 
Among the non-hereditary risks for colorectal cancer are increased age (such cancers are ten times more common in people aged 60-64 than in people aged 40-44), chronic inflammatory bowel disease (including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease), and previously diagnosed colonic polyps or other pre-cancerous lesions. 
 

For further information: Cancer Research US

Last updated: 8/3/18

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