The Causes of Colon Cancer
Colon cancer is a killer disease that affects a good number of individuals in the United States. The exact cause of this disease is unclear, although experts suggest that it starts with the growth of polyps inside the colon. These polyps take a lot of years to grow and develop into cancerous cells.
Although the exact reason why people develop colon cancer has yet to be cleared, there are however a number of factors that increases one’s chances of getting colon cancer. Some of these risk factors are age, diet, heredity, and affliction with other kinds of cancer. The good news is that most of these risk factors can be modified or reduced.
Age is considered the number one risk factor of colon cancer. An estimated 90% of colon cancer patients are aged 50 and above. The intriguing part is that a good number of these patients do not have other risks, making experts believe that age can really increase one’s chances of getting colon cancer. This is the same reason why colonoscopy is recommended as a part of annual examinations for people aged 50 and above.
One’s medical history is also considered a risk factor of colon cancer.
Those who have family members who had been previously afflicted with colon cancer are also more likely to get the disease compared to those who do not have a history of colon cancer. The risk also varies according to the number of relatives afflicted with colon cancer, their ages when they were afflicted with the disease, and if the family history spans a couple of generations. Generally, those with Jewish or Eastern European lineage are more prone to getting color cancer.
One’s medical history can also have a contribution on you getting colon cancer. The risk is even higher if one has had any type of cancer. The removal of large polyps can increase the chances of getting colon cancer. Certain diseases too such as ulcerative colitis as well as crohn’s disease have been proven to increase risk of colon cancer.
The last risk factor of colon cancer is lifestyle. This is also the easiest to control. One should have a good and well balanced diet to reduce the risks of colon cancer. The diet should have emphasis on whole grain foods, fish, and fruits and vegetables. People should also stay away from high fat, high protein, and high calorie diet.
