There are many risk factors for coo-rectal cancer, some of these are preventable while others are not. It is thought that around half of all colo-rectal cancer deaths could be prevented through regular screenings and lifestyle changes. Here are some of the more common risk factors associated with colo-rectqal cancer.
Gender
Men are slightly more likely to develop colo-rectal cancer than women. In particular, men are about 60% more likely to develop rectal cancer while males and females have about the same incidence of colon cancer.
Age
The risk of developing colo-rectal cancer is strongly linked to age. About 98% of all cases occur in people aged over 40, around 90% in people aged over 50 and, and around 70% in people over the age of 60.
Gender
African Americans and Hispanics appear to be at a slightly greater risk of developing colo-rectal cancer than Caucasians.
Family History
There appears to be a large genetic component of colo-rectal cancer. A history of colo-rectal cancer or polyps in first degree relatives raises an individuals risk of developing the disease. Around 20% of colo-rectal cancers are thought to be due to genetic factors.
Inherited Disorders
This includes disorders such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) which leads to a large number of polyps developing in the colon or rectum at a very young age (often before the age of 20). Other inherited disorders include hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC), and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Inflammatory bowel diseases includes disorders such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. These are known to increase an individuals risk of developing colo-rectal cancer, particularly at a younger age.
Diet
Diets high in fat have been associated with a greater risk of colo-rectal cancer. Diets high in red and processed meats are also thought to increase colo-rectal cancer risk. People that consume low amounts of fiber are also at a greater probability of developing the disease.
Lack Of Physical Activity
Those who perform moderate exercise at least three times a week are at around a 40% lower risk of developing colo-rectal cancer than those who perform moderate exercise less than three times a week. Physical activity can also improve a persons survival outlook after being diagnosed with the disease.
Obesity
Obesity is a strong risk factor for colo-rectal cancer. One study found that people with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 35 have around an 80% greater risk of colo-rectal cancer than people with a normal BMI (between 19 and 24.5).
Smoking
Smoking is thought to increase the number and size of polyps in the colon and carcinogens in tobacco are known to increase the incidence of most forms of cancer including colon and rectal cancers.
Heavy Alcohol Consumption
Studies have found that alcohol consumption of more than 25 standard drinks a week increases colo-rectal cancer risk significantly.
Type-2 Diabetes
People with type-2 diabetes are more likely to develop colo-rectal cancer and are more likely to die from it than people without type-2 diabetes, even after adjusting for risk factors common to both diabetes and colo-rectal cancer.
Posts Tagged ‘Colorectal’
Common Risk Factors Associated With Colo-rectal Cancer
Saturday, March 13th, 2010Escherichia Coli – An Unexpected Natural Cure for Colorectal Cancer
Monday, March 1st, 2010Colorectal cancer is one of the most prevalent forms of cancer worldwide. The disease has the highest incidence in well developed countries, affecting thousands of people in the United States each year. Although colorectal cancer predominantly affects people with ages over 50, some forms of the disease can also occur in young adults and even children. Colorectal cancer is a life-threatening disease that occurs on the premises of genetically inherited predispositions and environmental factors.
According to the causes that lead to the development of colon cancer, there are two main types of the disease: inherited colorectal cancer and acquired (sporadic) colorectal cancer. Inherited colorectal cancer generally occurs due to the transmission of colonic physiologic abnormalities from one generation to another. The underlying cause of inherited colorectal cancer is the formation of colonic polyps, prominent tissues that can eventually become malignant. Inherited colorectal cancer can occur at any age.
Sporadic colorectal cancer generally occurs as a consequence of inappropriate diet, unhealthy lifestyle, obesity and physical inactivity. Acquired colorectal cancer is characterized by the formation of colonic tumors and carcinomas. This type of colorectal cancer is more difficult to diagnose and it predominantly affects older adults. Unlike hereditary colorectal cancer, acquired colorectal cancer can be effectively prevented by timely making lifestyle improvements and dietary adjustments.
Regardless of its actual causes, colorectal cancer needs prompt medical intervention. If the disease is discovered early, the medical treatments available today can control the progression of colorectal cancer, improving patients’ life expectancy. However, in present there is no effective cure for colorectal cancer and medical scientists are trying to find more reliable forms of treatment for this type of malignancy.
Doctors inform that a diet rich in calcium can both reduce the risks of colorectal cancer and slow down its progression. In the presence of active Escherichia coli bacteria, calcium seems to be a major inhibitor for colorectal cancer. Recent studies have found that the progression of colorectal cancer is slowed down by a type of bacteria that populates the gastrointestinal tract. It seems that Escherichia coli, the bacteria responsible for causing diarrhea, can actually prevent colon cancer cells from multiplying.
The toxins produced by Escherichia coli inside the large bowel trigger a release of calcium, slowing down the multiplication rate of carcinoma cells. Medical scientists are currently trying to minimize the side-effects associated with Escherichia coli bacteria in order to introduce this type of organism in future treatments for colorectal cancer. In present, medical scientists focus on laboratory altering this type of bacteria so that it can act as a safe active agent in stopping the division of malignant cells.
For more resource on different colon cancer subjects please click this link http://www.colon-cancer-center.com. You can also find valuable information about stage3 colon cancer or even about colon cancer diet
Faq About Colorectal Cancer
Thursday, February 25th, 20101. What is colorectal cancer?
Cancer is the name for a disease that can affect cells from all the organs and bodyâs structures and is considered to be life threatening. The colon and rectum are a part of the large intestine and their function is to absorb nutrients and water from the food that passes through the intestine before it goes out of the body. Colorectal cancer is the disease that affects the cells from the colon and rectum creating a malign or benign tumor.
2. How can I know if I have colorectal cancer?
Some of the symptoms of this type of cancer are: diarrhea alternating with constipation and the feeling that the bowel has not emptied completely even after going to the bathroom. Also, seeing blood in the stool can be a clue for colorectal cancer. Abdominal pains and bloating can be present and feeling tiredness and vomiting can occur too.
These symptoms also appear in other affections and having them does not necessarily mean that you have colorectal cancer. A doctor will be able to diagnose your affection by performing some quick tests.
3. Why does colorectal cancer appear?
Scientists have not found out exactly why this disease occurs but they believe that if you follow a diet that is rich in proteins and fats and low in fiber you might develop cancer. Also, having a family history of colorectal cancer and breast or uterus cancer could be a risk for you. Drinking alcohol is also a factor that leads to cancer. If you have polyps on the inner wall of the intestine and you leave them untreated they can transform into malign tumors (meaning that cancer had occurred).
4. What data exist about the frequency of colorectal cancer?
In the whole world, colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer in males and the fourth in women. It is quite rare in Asia and Africa but you can find it frequently in the Western world. Those who have adopted western diets are at risk to develop colorectal cancer.
Scientist believe that in the close future 1 or 2 people out of every 100 will develop colorectal cancer after the age of 50.
Until now, 4 out of 10 patients are diagnosed with cancer only after their disease had advanced to a next stage, meaning that treatment options will not be available in such a large number and probably the most indicated procedure will be surgery. Only in a small number of cases patients will require drug treatment.
5. How can colorectal cancer be treated?
Treating cancer is made after staging the disease, meaning that the doctors will try to find out how much the cancer has spread.
The most indicated procedure is surgery because it removes the tumor. In some cases the tumor will not reappear. Sometimes, during the surgery the doctor will be forced to perform a colostomy.
If the cancer has spread, chemotherapy or radiation therapy will be recommended because it will kill the cancerous cells and will stop them from dividing and spreading even more.
For greater resources on colon cancer or especially about stage3 colon cancer please visit this link http://www.colon-cancer-center.com/stage3-colon-cancer.htm
The Best Way to Prevent Colorectal Cancer
Friday, February 19th, 2010Most colorectal cancer is considered sporadic, meaning it occurs in people with no family history of the disease. So, we can blame a lot of things on our family, but usually colorectal cancer isn’t one of them. It is more likely to occur as people get older. In general, both men and women at average risk of colorectal cancer should begin screening tests at age 50.
Beginning at 50 years of age, persons at average risk for colorectal cancer should be screened with fecal occult blood testing annually and or flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years, colono scopy every 10 years or double-contrast barium enema every five to 10 years. Testing stool samples for genetic alterations that occur in colorectal cancer cells may help doctors find evidence of cancer or precancerous polyps. In some patients, genetic testing can guide screening and may be cost-effective. Genetic testing should be considered, especially in large families with many at-risk members; in such situations, genotyping may be more cost-effective than repeated endoscopy.
Approximately 25% of cases are attributed to two types of colorectal cancers: familial and hereditary. Familial colorectal cancer accounts for about 20% of cases and hereditary colorectal cancer accounts for the remaining five percent. You should discuss beginning earlier screening if you have a personal history of colorectal cancer or polyps, a strong family history of either, a personal history of chronic inflammatory bowel disease or a family history of a hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome. Genetic counseling and genetic testing for families who may have a hereditary form of colon cancer, such as
hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) or familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP).
Since most colon polyps and early cancers are silent (produce no symptoms), it is important to do screening and surveillance for colon cancer in patients without symptoms or signs of the polyps or cancers. Screening tests are used to look for disease in people who do not have any symptoms. Although there are good colorectal cancer screening tests, not enough people have them done. The majority of colorectal cancers would likely have been avoided if the people had only undergone regular and appropriate screenings.
Cancer prevention is action taken to lower the chance of getting cancer. Some cancer prevention trials are conducted with healthy people who have not had cancer but who have an increased risk for cancer. Although the exact cause of colorectal cancer is not known, it is possible to prevent many colon cancers with the following:diet and exercise. It is important to manage the risk factors you can control, such as diet and
exercise. Nevertheless, it appears that increasing the fiber content in the Western diet would be useful in the primary prevention of colorectal cancer. You can start today to train children in cancer prevention habits, remembering that it’s never too late to make healthy lifestyle changes for yourself as
well.