Who Is at Risk for Colorectal Cancer?
Approximately six percent of all Americans are affected by colorectal cancer. There are numerous factors that increase the risk. Commonly accepted risk factors include:
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a personal history of colon polyps;
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a family history of colorectal cancer;
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inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis);
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smoking; and
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a diet high in animal fat and low in fiber.
The exact mechanism of how colorectal cancer develops is not known. However, we do know that colorectal cancers develop initially from polyps.
After you have received treatment, you should ask your doctor for recommendations regarding screening and checkups for your blood-related family members, as they may be at a higher risk for developing colorectal cancer. Your siblings or adult children are more likely than others to be diagnosed with colon cancer. Ask your doctor about published guidelines for testing your family members, and genetic testing for yourself. Some families have a greater risk for the development of colon cancer if there is a family history of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC) that make their members more likely to get colon cancer. In general, your siblings and adult children should undergo colonoscopy more often and begin at an earlier age than average risk individuals.