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
- Drinking too much alcohol
More on Colon Cancer
Colon Cancer Risk Factors
First Symptoms and Diagnosis of Colon Cancer
The Genetic Link in Colon Cancer
In The Encyclopedia:
Bowel resection
Colon cancer
Rectal cancer
Sigmoidoscopy
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