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Digestive Diseases

Risk Factors for Colorectal Cancer

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Lifestyle and Diet

A sedentary lifestyle; a diet of little fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains, and low in calcium and vitamin D; high red meat consumption; and excess body fat may increase one's risk of colorectal cancer. Smoking tobacco and heavy alcohol use are also risk factors.

Conversely, eating a diet rich in fruit, vegetables and fiber, and low in animal fats may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. Regular exercise and a diet high in vitamin D and calcium, along with regular use of non-steroidal inflammatory drugs may reduce the risk. However, these drugs can also cause gastrointestinal bleeding, and should not be used without consulting a physician.

Screenings

Regular colorectal screening beginning at age 50 is recommended for individuals with normal risk, and every 10 years afterward. Alternatively, flexible sigmoidoscopy or CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) can be employed every five years for screening. For younger individuals with higher risk, screening should be done earlier and more frequently.

Age

Age is a risk factor for colorectal cancer. Most people who are diagnosed with the disease are over age 50, although individuals with certain genetic syndromes may develop the disease at a younger age.

Other Diseases

Those who have been diagnosed with and treated for adenomatous polyps or colon cancer have higher risk of the disease. Those with a family history of colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, stomach cancer, and pancreatic cancer also have a slightly higher risk than others.

People with an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)– Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis – have an increased risk of colorectal cancer, as do those with certain inherited polyposis syndromes, such as familial polyposis.

Diabetes is another risk factor for colorectal cancer.

Genetic Factors

Individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish background may have a higher than normal risk of colorectal cancer. African Americans who are diagnosed with this disease are more likely than other groups to die of it.