Colorectal Cancer Risks

Posted: March 1, 2005

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in the United States.

In recent years, the number of people diagnosed with colorectal cancer has stayed about the same, but the number of people who die from colorectal cancer has decreased. Colorectal cancer is found more often in men than in women.

Age and health history can affect the risk of developing colon cancer.
Risk factors for colorectal cancer include the following:

• Being older than 50 years of age

Having a personal history of any of the following:

• Colorectal cancer or adenomas
• Cancer of the ovary, endometrium or breast
• Ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease
• Having a parent, brother, sister or child with colorectal cancer or adenomas
• Having certain hereditary conditions, such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC; Lynch Syndrome)

Other risk factors include:

• A diet mostly from animal sources
• Physical inactivity
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Heavy alcohol intake

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