Risk Factors of Colon Cancer

For most people it is recommended to get screened for colon cancer after 45. However, if you have symptoms or have certain risk factors, your doctor may say to get tested earlier [click here to learn more about risk factors]

These risk factors include:​

• Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

  • Crohn's disease​ [español]

  • Ulcerative colitis [español]

• Genetic Syndromes​

  • Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) [español]

  • Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch Syndrome) [español]

  • MUTYH-associated polyposis (MAP) [español]

  • Peutz-Jeghers syndrome [español]

  • Cystic Fibrosis [español]

• A family or personal history of colon cancer polyps or colorectal cancer​

If you relate with any of these risk factors, talk to a medical professional about getting tested early. Early detection and treatment of colon cancer can be life-saving.

Beyond these risk factors, certain lifestyle choices can also increase your risk of getting the disease [click here to learn more]

• Excess body weight

• Lack of physical activity

• A diet with a lot of red meat (beef, pork, lamb) or processed meat (hot dogs, lunch meats, sausages)

• Diets that lack fruits, vegetables, and whole grains

• Alcohol consumption (Not drinking alcohol is the easiest way to avoid its risks. However, if you do drink, it is recommended to limit consumption to one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.)

• Diabetes mellitus, Type 2 [español]

Living a healthy lifestyle can help reduce your risk.