Colorectal Cancer
Risk Factors
Many factors increase your risk of developing colorectal cancer. Some are beyond your control including:
- Age 50 years or older
- Personal history of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Presence of polyps in your colon, especially if they are large or there are many
- Family history of polyps or colorectal cancer
- Changes in bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation or caliber of the stool)
- A feeling that your bowel does not empty completely
- Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool
- Abdominal discomfort (gas, bloating or cramps)
- Unexplained loss of appetite or weight, weakness, fatigue or jaundice
- History of ovarian, uterine or breast cancer
- Genetic mutations
Other risk factors can be affected by your lifestyle such as:
- Obesity, particularly having excess fat in the waist area
- Lack of exercise
- Diet high in red, processed or heavily cooked meats
- Smoking
- Heavy alcohol consumption
In most cases, you can prevent colorectal cancer by undergoing screening to detect and remove polyps from the colon before they become cancerous.
