You or your family are diagnosed with colon cancer and you want to know the cause of the cancer. Doctors don't know the exact cause of colon cancer, but they do know that it usually begins with a small increase in the inside of the colon called polyps. These polyps can take years to grow enough to be seen in routine colonoscopy, and then these polyps take years to become cancer.
Although the exact cause of colon cancer is unclear, there are several risk factors that increase the risk of cancer. Risk factors may increase your chances of developing cancer or other diseases. Some risk factors, such as age, cannot be changed, while other risk factors, such as diet, can be modified and reduced. Risk factors for colon cancer include age and hereditary diseases.
The first risk factor for colon cancer is the most common. This is your age. Approximately 90% of colon cancer cases are found in people over the age of 50. Many of these cases have no other risk factors, making them the most important factor in the development of this cancer. This is why many doctors recommend colonoscopy from the age of 50 as part of an annual examination.
Another risk factor for colon cancer is your family history and any genetic disease that may affect the development of colon polyps. If your immediate family members [parents, siblings, or children] have colon cancer, you are more likely to develop colon cancer. The risk depends on how many relatives own it, and the age and history of their diagnosis spans multiple generations. This is known as a strong family history of colon cancer and may be caused by genetic mutations. These mutations are more common in certain ethnic groups, such as Jews in Eastern European heritage. If this is the case, you may need to have a blood test to check for any genetic mutations.
These genetic changes can lead to a variety of conditions, such as familial adenomatous polyposis [FAP], alleviation of familial adenomatous polyposis [AFAP] and hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer [HNPCC]. All of these genetic disorders develop into colon cancer if left untreated. These conditions are rare and few people are diagnosed with colon cancer.
Your medical history can also lead to the risk of colon cancer. If you have any cancer in the past, your risk will be higher. Large polyps, even after removal, increase the chance of colon cancer. There are also certain diseases that increase the risk of colon cancer, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
The ultimate - and the easiest to change - risk factors are diet, exercise and habits. High-fat, high-calorie and high-protein diets have been shown to increase chances of colon cancer. This type of diet can also lead to another risk factor, weight. Lack of exercise can also increase your risk. You can minimize these three risk factors by making some simple changes, such as eating more fruits and vegetables and starting your workout. These two changes will help to lose weight and improve the diet. Smoking and drinking can also lead to colon cancer risk. Some studies have shown that smoking increases the chance of developing colon cancer. The risk of colon cancer in alcoholics is also increasing due to alcohol consumption. Studies have shown that drinking more than 2 drinks a day increases the risk of colon cancer.
Orignal From: Causes and risk factors of colon cancer
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