| The exact reason why colon cancer develops in | | | | developing colorectal cancer. Environmental |
| some persons and not in others is not clear. | | | | factors also may be playing a role in the |
| The incidence of colon cancer is quite varied | | | | development of colorectal cancer. People who |
| among different countries and within | | | | migrate from areas of low risk to areas of |
| different ethnic groups inside the same | | | | the world with higher risk of developing |
| country. Industrialized countries like United | | | | colorectal cancer, they tend to acquire the |
| States, Canada, UK, Western Europe, Australia | | | | risk of the country to which they are |
| and Japan have a much higher incidence of | | | | migrating. This finding suggests the presence |
| colorectal cancer compared to the less | | | | of environmental factors causing higher risk |
| industrialized parts of the world like Asia, | | | | of developing colorectal cancer. Changes in |
| Africa, and South America. Colorectal cancer | | | | dietary factors associated with migration may |
| represent over 9 percent of all cancers in | | | | also be contributing to this increase in risk |
| men and about 10 percent of all cancers in | | | | associated with migration from low risk areas |
| women world-wide. In industrialized countries | | | | to higher risk areas. |
| the incidence of colorectal cancer can be as | | | | |
| high as 12 to 14 of all cancers, and in | | | | Risk factors for the development of |
| non-industrialized countries much lower rates | | | | colorectal cancer include the following: |
| of about 7 to 8 percent of all cancers | | | | |
| diagnosed may be colorectal cancer. | | | | - Age over 50 years |
| | | | |
| Excluding skin cancer, colorectal cancer is | | | | - Increased fat intake |
| the third commonest cancer diagnosed in the | | | | |
| United States. Each year over 100,000 | | | | - Large intestinal polyps |
| Americans are diagnosed with colon cancer and | | | | |
| over 50 percent of these patients will die | | | | - Family history of colon cancer |
| from colorectal cancer. Colon cancer | | | | |
| incidence is not much different between males | | | | - Inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative |
| and females, however colon cancer is slightly | | | | colitis and Crohn's disease. |
| more prevalent in women compared to men | | | | |
| (ratio of 1.2:1) but the rectal cancer is | | | | - Personal history of other cancers |
| more common in males (ratio of 1.7:1). | | | | |
| | | | - Sedentary habits and lack of exercise |
| Even though we do not know the exact cause of | | | | |
| development of colorectal cancer, scientists | | | | - Obesity |
| have recognized several factors that can | | | | |
| increase the risk of development of | | | | - Diabetes |
| colorectal cancer. A risk factor for a | | | | |
| disease is any condition that makes a person | | | | - Smoking |
| more likely to develop that diseases. Some of | | | | |
| the risk factors like dietary factors are | | | | - Alcohol content |
| modifiable by the person involved while some | | | | |
| other factors like age are un-modifiable. | | | | - Genetic colon cancer syndromes like |
| These risk factors may act in combination, | | | | Familial adenomatous polyposis or Hereditary |
| and this combination of risk factors may be | | | | Non-polyposis Colon Cancer (HNPCC) Persons |
| associated with cumulative increase in the | | | | who have high risk of colorectal cancer may |
| risk of development of colorectal cancer. The | | | | undergo screening for colorectal cancer with |
| simple presence of one or more risk factors | | | | colonoscopy once every 2 to 3 years. |
| does not necessarily mean that someone will | | | | Screening colonoscopy is recommended for |
| develop colorectal cancer. On the other hand | | | | every one who is 50 years or older. If |
| absence of all risk factors does not mean | | | | someone has a higher than average risk of |
| that an individual will not develop | | | | developing colorectal cancer, the screening |
| colorectal cancer, but generally more risk | | | | may be initiated earlier than 50 years. |
| factors you have higher is the chance of | | | | |