Risk Factors of Colon Cancer

Your doctor will recommend screening for colon and rectal cancer —also called colorectal cancer—starting at age 50 if you don’t have health problems or risk factors that make you more likely to develop colon cancer. Risk factors increase the likelihood of developing colon cancer, but do not guarantee that you will get colon cancer. Patients with colon cancer risk factors may need a screening colonoscopy before the recommended age and they may need more frequent scopes to ensure the disease is not present or spreading.

Factors that may increase your risk of colon cancer include:

• Over age 50. Although colon cancer can be diagnosed at any age, the majority of people with colon cancer are over the age of 50. The recommended screening age is 45.

• Family History of cancer in the colon or rectum

• Personal History of cancer in the colon, rectum, ovary, breast, or endometrium

• Personal or Family History of Polyps (non- or pre- cancerous or cancerous). Most polyps will not turn into cancer, but removing them significantly reduces the risk of cancer.

• Personal History of inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

• Inherited syndromes that increase colon cancer risk such as Lynch syndrome.

• African-Americans have a greater risk of colon cancer than do people of other races.

• Some Lifestyle Factors including obesity, smoking, diabetes, and sedentary lifestyle.

• Heavy use of alcohol increases your risk of colon cancer.

• Radiation therapy for cancer. Radiation therapy directed at the abdomen to treat previous cancers increases the risk of colon cancer.

If you are more likely to develop colorectal cancer, your doctor may recommend screening at a younger age, and more often. If you are older than age 75, talk with your doctor about whether you should be screened. For more information, read the current colorectal cancer screening guidelines  from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.