Risk Factors for Colorectal Cancer
Overview
Anything that increases your
likelihood of contracting a disease like cancer is considered a risk factor.
Risk factors for various malignancies vary. Smoking is one risk factor that can
be altered. Others, such as an individual's age or family history, are
unchangeable. However, having one or more risk factors does not guarantee that
you will develop the condition. Additionally, not all individuals with the
condition have known risk factors.
Numerous risk factors have
been identified by researchers as possibly raising an individual's risk of
either colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer.
Variable Risk factors for colorectal cancer
The risk of colorectal cancer
has been linked to numerous lifestyle-related factors. The associations between
food, weight, and activity and the risk of colorectal cancer are among the
strongest of any cancer.
Being obese or overweight
Your chance of acquiring colon
cancer and dying from it is increased if you are overweight or obese (extremely
overweight). Obesity increases a person's risk of developing colon and rectal
cancer. Still, the link appears to be more pronounced in males. A healthy
weight can be achieved and maintained, which may help reduce your risk.
Without engaging in any exercise
You have a higher risk of colon
cancer if you are not physically active. Regular, brisk physical activity can
help reduce your risk.
Particular diets
Your risk of colorectal cancer
increases if you consume a lot of processed meats like hot dogs and some
luncheon meats, as well as red meats like beef, hog, lamb, or liver.
When you fry, broil, or grill
meat at extremely high temperatures, chemicals may increase your chance of
developing cancer. It's unclear how much your risk of colorectal cancer may
rise.
Your risk may also be
increased by low vitamin D levels in your blood.
Smoking
Long-term tobacco users are
more likely to get colorectal cancer and pass away from it than non-smokers.
Smoking is an established risk factor for lung cancer, but it's also connected
to many other malignancies.
Use of alcohol
Moderate to excessive alcohol
use has been associated with colorectal cancer. Even occasional or modest
drinking has been linked to some danger. It's recommended to avoid alcohol
consumption. The recommended daily limit for alcohol consumption is 2 drinks
for men and 1 for women. This may result from numerous health advantages, such
as a reduced risk of numerous cancer types.
Constant Risk factors for colorectal cancer
Age
As you become older, your
chance of colorectal cancer increases. Although it can occur in young
individuals, it is considerably more typical in people over 50. The cause of
the rise in colorectal cancer in those under 50 is yet unknown.
a history of colorectal cancer or polyps in the colon
You are more likely to get
colorectal cancer if you have a history of adenomatous polyps (adenomas). This
is especially true if any polyps exhibit dysplasia, are numerous, or are big.
Having had colorectal cancer
increases your risk of getting it again in other regions of the colon and
rectum, even if it was entirely removed. If you first developed colorectal
cancer when you were younger, your odds of this occurring are higher.
Inflammatory bowel disease in my own life
Your risk of colorectal cancer
is raised if you have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative
colitis or Crohn's disease.
IBD is a disorder where the
colon becomes chronically irritated. People with IBD for a long time,
especially those who go untreated, frequently develop dysplasia. A condition
known as dysplasia refers to cells that appear abnormal but are not cancerous
and are found in the lining of the colon or rectum. They may eventually develop
into cancer.
If you have IBD, you might
need to start getting checked earlier in life and more frequently for
colorectal cancer.
Irritable bowel syndrome
(IBS), which does not appear to raise your risk for colorectal cancer, is
distinct from inflammatory bowel disease.
adenomatous polyps or colorectal cancer in the family
Most colorectal cancers are
discovered in individuals without a family history of the disease.
Nevertheless, up to 1 in 3 patients with colorectal cancer have family
relatives who have already had the disease.
People are more vulnerable if
a first-degree family (parent, sibling, or kid) has had colon cancer in the
past. If more than one first-degree relative is afflicted or the relative's
cancer was discovered when they were under 50, the risk is even higher.
In certain instances, the
causes of the elevated risk are not quite evident. Because of inherited genes,
common environmental influences, or any mix of these, cancer can "run in
the family."
Adenomatous polyps in the
family are also associated with an increased risk of colon cancer. The type of
polyps that can develop into cancer is adenomatous polyps.
Inform your doctor if you have
a family history of adenomatous polyps or colorectal cancer to see whether you
should begin screening earlier than age 45. Let your close family members know
if you've ever had colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps so they may inform
their doctors and begin screening at the appropriate age.
possessing a genetic syndrome
Approximately 5% of
individuals with colorectal cancer have inherited gene variations (mutations)
that can result in family cancer syndromes and make them more likely to get the
illness.
Lynch syndrome (hereditary
non-polyposis colorectal cancer, or HNPCC), familial adenomatous polyposis
(FAP), and other less prevalent inherited diseases can all raise the risk of colorectal
cancer.
Lombardi syndrome (hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer or HNPCC)
The most typical hereditary
colorectal cancer syndrome is called Lynch syndrome. About 2% to 4% of all
colorectal cancers are caused by it. Although mutations in other genes can also
result in Lynch syndrome, the most common genetic cause of this condition is an
inherited flaw in one of the MLH1, MSH2, or MSH6 genes. Normally, these genes
aid in the restoration of DNA damage.
The cancers associated with
this syndrome typically appear in patients who are still relatively young. Although
polyps are possible in those with Lynch syndrome, they typically only have a
few. Depending on which gene is damaged, a person with this syndrome may have a
50% lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer.
An extremely high risk of
endometrial cancer exists in women with this disease (lining of the uterus).
The ovary, stomach, small intestine, pancreas, kidney, prostate, breast,
ureters (tubes that transfer urine from the kidneys to the bladder), and bile
duct are among the other malignancies associated with Lynch syndrome. A Lynch
syndrome gene abnormality increases the risk of colon cancer and glioblastoma,
a particular type of brain cancer, in people with Turcot syndrome, a rare
genetic illness.
Adenomatous polyposis in families (FAP)
The APC gene alterations
(mutations) that a person inherits from their parents cause FAP. FAP is
responsible for about 1% of all colorectal malignancies.
When a person has the most
prevalent variety of FAP, hundreds or thousands of polyps form in their colon
and rectum, frequently starting at around age 10 to 12. As early as 20, 1 or
more of these polyps typically develop cancer. If their colon hasn't been
removed to stop it, nearly all FAP patients will develop colon cancer by age
40. The risk of stomach, small intestine, pancreatic, liver, and several other
types of cancer is also higher in those with FAP.
Three subtypes of FAP exist:
· Patients
with attenuated FAP or AFAP have fewer polyps (less than 100), and colorectal
cancer typically manifests later in life (the 40s and 50s).
· The FAP
Gardner syndrome also results in non-cancerous tumors of the skin, soft
tissues, and bones.
· Turbot
syndrome is a rare genetic disorder where patients are more likely to develop
colorectal cancer and many adenomatous polyps. APC gene carriers with Turbot
syndrome are also susceptible to medulloblastoma, a particular form of brain
cancer.
Colorectal cancer and rare inherited syndromes
• Hamartomas, a specific type
of polyp that develops in the digestive tracts in people with Peutz-Jeghers
syndrome (JPS), are freckles that typically appear around the mouth and
occasionally on the hands and feet. These persons are more likely to develop
colon, breast, ovarian, and pancreatic cancers. They are typically discovered
when they are younger than usual. STK11 (LKB1) gene mutations are the cause of
this syndrome.
• MAP, or MUTYH-associated
polyposis: Sufferers of this condition frequently develop colon polyps. If they
are not closely monitored with routine colonoscopies, they will inevitably
develop into cancer. These individuals also have a higher risk of developing
thyroid and other GI (gastrointestinal) malignancies. This syndrome frequently
results in cancer at a younger age. It is brought on by mutations in the MUTYH
gene, which is involved in "proofreading" the DNA and correcting any
errors.
Finding families with these
inherited disorders is crucial since many of these syndromes are connected to
colorectal cancer at a young age and other types of cancer. When a person is
younger, it enables doctors to advise particular actions like screening and
other preventive measures.
Your ancestry, both racial and ethnic
Of all racial groups in the
US, African Americans have the highest incidence and fatality rates for
colorectal cancer.
Ashkenazi Jews, descended from
Eastern European Jews, have one of the highest rates of colorectal cancer among
any ethnic group in the world.
being a type 2 diabetic
A higher risk of colorectal
cancer exists in those with type 2 diabetes, which is typically not insulin
dependent. Some risk factors for type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer are
similar (such as being overweight and physical inactivity). But even after
accounting for these variables, type 2 diabetics still run a higher risk. After
diagnosis, they frequently have a prognosis (outlook) that is less positive.
Uncertain influences on the risk of colorectal
cancer
A night shift
According to several research,
routinely working the night shift may increase your risk of developing rectal
cancer. This may be brought on by melatonin levels, a hormone that changes in
light affect this. More study is required.
prior chemotherapy for specific tumors
According to several types of
research, men who have survived testicular cancer appear to be more likely to
get colorectal cancer and other types of cancer. This could result from their
medical interventions, including radiation therapy.
Because the rectum receives some radiation during treatment, it has been hypothesized in many studies that men who underwent radiation therapy to treat their prostate cancer may be at an increased risk of developing rectal cancer. Most of these investigations were conducted on males who underwent radiation therapy in the 1980s and 1990s when the technique was less exact than it is now. Although the impact of more contemporary radiation techniques on the risk of rectal cancer is unclear, research in this area is still ongoing.
