What is a risk factor?

A certain attribute that increases your risk or chance of developing a particular disease, in this case colorectal cancer.

The risk factors for Colorectal cancers include:

1. Age older age above 40 years.

2. Diet- consumption of too much red meat and processed meat increases the risk of getting colorectal cancer

3. Being overweight and obese

4. Lifestyle -smoking tobacco and alcohol use

5. Family history-Your risk of bowel cancer is increased if you have a first degree relative diagnosed with bowel cancer. A first degree relative is a parent, brother or sister, son or daughter.

6. Inherited Conditions-There are some rare inherited conditions or syndromes associated with certain gene changes. Family members have an increased risk of bowel cancer if they inherit these gene changes.

For example, Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) is one of these conditions. FAP is responsible for less than 1 in 100 cases (less than 1%) of all bowel cancers. If left untreated, all individuals with this syndrome will almost certainly develop bowel cancer by their 40’s.

Specialists recommend that people with FAP have bowel surgery in their 20’s. The surgeon usually removes the colon to prevent the development of bowel cancer.

7. Associated conditions – such as Ulcerative Colitis and Chrons Disease cause chronic inflammation in the bowel and hence increases the risk for colorectal cancer.

Other conditions linked to bowel cancer is Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 and Endocarditis.

Risk factors for colorectal cancer can be classified into:

Non – modifiable Risk Factors 

1. Age 
2. Sex 
3. Race 
4. Family history 

Modifiable Risk factors

1. Tobacco use
2. Infectious agents
3. Alcohol intake
4. Diet
5. Sedentary lifestyle

Protective factors against Cancer of the Colon and rectum

1. Long term use of aspirin and other NSAIDs 
2. Physical activity
3. Diet rich in fiber and vegetables and low in processed meat