How to Tell Risk Factors for Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer, the combination of colon and rectal cancer, can occur in anyone. While it isn’t known yet what causes the cancer, there are a few risk factors for developing it. However, keep in mind that there are those that will get diagnosed that have none of the risk factors, early detection and careful screening are the keys to a recovery.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• colonoscopy
• primary caregiver
• healthcare professionals

1. While there are various reasons that people get colorectal cancer versus someone else, there are a few things that can put a person in a risk factor category. These eight risk factors include:
   Diabetes – Having diabetes ups the chance for colon cancer 30-40%.

2. Lifestyle – Things like smoking, drinking, being overweight, or sedentary lifestyles have an increased risk.

3. Diet – Those that eat a high fat diet rich in calories have a higher risk.

4. Gender – Women are at a higher risk to get colon cancer than men. Men are at a higher risk to get rectal cancer than women.

5. Patient History – Those that have had colorectal cancer have an increased risk factor to get it again. Also, women with breast cancer or ovarian cancer have a higher risk factor to get colorectal cancer.

6. Age – If you are over the age of 50 you have a higher chance of colorectal cancer

7. UC and Crohn’s – Those that already have ulcerative colitis or crohn’s disease have a higher risk to get diagnosed with colon cancer or rectal cancer.

8. Patient’s Family History – Those that have close family with colorectal cancer will have a higher risk factor to get it than those without a family connection. This also goes for a family history of polyps, even though polyps aren’t cancerous in nature

9. Polyps – Those that have already had polyps of rectum or colon will have a higher risk factor of colorectal cancer, even though the polyps are noncancerous in nature.