In honor of Colorectal Cancer Awareness month, we’ve dedicated a series of blogs to educate our members about colorectal cancer, preventative screenings, and factors that may put you more at-risk for developing colorectal cancer.
What Is It?
Colorectal cancer almost always develops from precancerous polyps (abnormal growths) in the colon or rectum. Some forms of polyps can turn into cancer over time (typically many years), but not all polyps will become cancer. The chance of a polyp becoming cancerous depends on the type of polyp it is.
- Adenomatous polyps (adenomas): These polyps sometimes become cancerous. Because of this, adenomas are considered a precancerous condition.
- Hyperplastic polyps and inflammatory polyps: These polyps are more common, but typically aren’t precancerous. Some people with larger hyperplastic polyps might need colorectal cancer screening via a colonoscopy more often.
- Sessile serrated polyps (SSP) and traditional serrated adenomas (TSA): These polyps are often treated like adenomas because they have a higher risk of colorectal cancer.
What Puts Me More at Risk?
As with any disease, some lifestyle and biological factors can put an individual more at risk of developing colorectal cancer.
Lifestyle factors that contribute to an increased risk of colorectal cancer include:
- A lack of regular physical activity
- A diet low in fruit and vegetables
- A low-fiber and high-fat diet, or a diet high in processed meats
- Being overweight or obese
- Alcohol consumption
- Tobacco use
Biological factors that may contribute to an increased risk of colorectal cancer include:
- Being 50 years or older
- Inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
- A personal or family history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps
- Genetic syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome)
How Can I Lower My Risk of Developing Colorectal Cancer?
While there is no fail-safe way to ensure you never develop colorectal cancer, there are steps in your everyday life you can take to lower your risk. Get regular exercise, do your best to control your weight, avoid alcohol and tobacco products, and eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
It’s also important to get screened as often as necessary for colorectal cancer. Being screened regularly will help doctors find polyps, which can be removed if they’re at-risk of becoming cancerous. Talk to your doctor about the best screening options for you.
For more information visit: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/about/what-is-colorectal-cancer.html
