Causes of Colon Cancer

Colon cancer has been classified as the third most common cancer in the United States. Over 150,000 cases are diagnosed annually, particularly in people over fifty years of age. Colon cancer usually starts as the formation of small tumors or polyps in the colon. Several types of polyps can be formed in the colon, but the type that raises concern are the adenomatous polyps because they are precancerous. Usually, the size of the polyp determines the risk of cancer development. Several factors have been identified as contributors to the development and formation of colon or colorectal cancer. Some of these causes of colon cancer are discussed below.

Heredity

It has been estimated that about 25% of diagnosed cases of colon cancer are related to the genetic makeup of the individual. This also applies to other types of cancer in which susceptibility is determined, to an extent, by genetic makeup. Hereditary colon cancer has been recognized in several forms, and they include Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Turcot’s syndrome, Peutz-Jagher’s syndrome, Gardner’s syndrome and Cowden’s disease. In these conditions, the polyps develop early, and can easily lead to colon cancer if left untreated. Another form is the hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer which is usually associated with other cancers throughout the body.

Diet

Research carried out has shown that diet plays a key role in the occurrence of colon cancer, and as such, can be considered as one of the main causes of colon cancer. Of course, there are still some unclear conclusions, but it has been determined that people who depend on a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and other foods rich in fiber, have a significantly reduced risk of developing colon cancer than those on low fiber diets. This explains why colon cleansing has potential as a remedy for colon cancer, since it usually involves the use of herbs and other fiber rich products that improve the functioning of the colon.

History

The history of an individual has also been found to affect the risk of developing colon cancer. An individual with a previous history of colon cancer, especially if it happened before he or she turned 60, is at an increased risk of developing it a second time. Also, individuals with a history of certain surgeries are at an increased risk of having colon cancers. Examples of these surgeries include cholecystectomy, the removal of the gallbladder, and other surgeries performed in the treatment of bladder cancer. Also, people with a family medical history of colon cancer are at an increased risk of developing colon cancer.

These are just three common causes of colon cancer. Other causes of colon cancer include lifestyle habits such as smoking and drinking, exposure to chemicals, other diseases such as inflammatory bowel infections like ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease. Knowing the possible causes is the first step to preventing colon cancer since adequate measures can now be taken to safeguard your health.