Causes and risk factors of colon cancer

Causes and risk factors of colon cancer

In the development of colon cancer may be involved both genetic and environmental factors. Let's look at some of the causes of colon cancer.

Feeding

Experts say that a diet rich in saturated fat promotes the occurrence of colon cancer. There is also an increased risk of developing the disease if the individual is obese or maintaining a high caloric intake. Conversely, calcium supplements and aspirin may decrease this risk. However, there have been studies that have not been able to show that fiber intake lowers the risk. 

Age

Colon cancer usually appears above the age of 50, although there is an increased risk to develop it after age 40, and most patients are around 75 years.

Polyps as possible cause of colon cancer

There is an important relationship between colon cancer and adenomatous polyps. A polyp is a bump that appears on the surface of the intestinal mucosa. There are different types, but only are clearly premalignant adenomatous, in addition, only a minority of these develop into cancer, so cancers arising from the transformation of a polyp account for 1% of all cancers.

Associated Diseases

The fact of having an inflammatory bowel disease ( Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis ) entails an increased to develop colon cancer, particularly in the case of ulcerative colitis risk. Other situations also an increased risk of this disease, as have suffered breast cancer and genital tract, or have had adenomas in the colon.

Also assumed to have a high risk families who have had colon cancer or hereditary polyposis syndrome.

Genetic factors as a cause of colon cancer

Were typed genetic alterations associated with the development of colon cancer, in particular genes altered in familial polyposis and hereditary colon cancer.

90% of colon cancers arise sporadically, while 5-10% are hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer, namely, that the patient has more relatives who had cancer. About 1% of colon cancers arise from adenomatous polyposis syndrome (presence of multiple polyps in the colon), it also affects more than one family.