Risk Factors

Known risk factors for colorectal cancer include:

• Age - more than 90 percent of people diagnosed are over age 50

• Personal history of benign polyps or previous colon cancer

• Inflammatory bowel diseases. Chronic inflammation of the colon, such as in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, increases the risk

• Family history. The risk of colon cancer increases two times if a primary first-degree relative (parent, sibling or child) has the disease and further increases if two primary first-degree relatives have the disease. Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) are conditions in which multiple benign polyps become cancer and both have a strong genetic link

• Low-fiber, high-fat diet; increased red meat intake

• Being overweight

• Lack of exercise

• Smoking

• Drinking too much alcohol

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This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.