Are You At Risk For Colon Cancer?

There is a notion among individuals that colon and rectal cancer, grouped together as colorectal cancer generally gets diagnosed in people who are over the age of 50 or 60. In fact, colorectal cancer was known as “the disease of the aged.” However, medical reports and its prevalence in colon cancer surgery by surgeons are now telling a different story. Now, colorectal cancer is one of the most common forms of tumour affecting the younger generations and even teenagers. It is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among both men and women.

The risk of colorectal cancer indeed increases with age. However, there are individuals who are even at a higher risk of developing cancerous polyps either in the colon or rectum.

Identifying these risk factors is essential to prevent or control the growth of malignant cells and avoid fatal situations.

What Are The Risk Factors Of Colon Cancer?

Below are the questions you must ask yourself to know whether you are vulnerable to suffering from this particular type of cancer.

• Is your age over 50 years?
  The reason still remains unclear as to why colorectal cancer is predominant in older adults. However, nearly two-thirds of colon cancer is detected in individuals over 65 years of age.
• Does your family have a history of colon cancer or polyps?
  Some conditions like colorectal cancer are inherited. If your first-degree relative such as your parents or siblings ever had colon cancer surgery or even pre-cancerous colorectal polyps, there is a higher chance that you are likely to develop tumours in the colon.
• Do you have chronic inflammatory bowel disease or ulcerative colitis?
  Both these conditions lead to inflammation in the lining of the colon and rectum. Chronic inflammation damages the genetic mutation of colon cells, causing mutations that often become cancerous.
• Have you been exposed to radiation in the abdomen or pelvic area?
  If you had radiation therapy as a treatment for cancer in the areas where the colon and rectum are located, there is an increased chance of the growth of the tumour as one of the side effects of radiation.
• Do you regularly consume red meat, alcohol or tobacco?
  An unhealthy lifestyle and eating pattern like consumption of red meat cooked at a high temperature, heavy use or smoking tobacco for a long time have been linked to early onset of colorectal cancer. This is because they release carcinogenic chemicals in the stomach.

If the answer to any of these questions is “YES”, then you are either suffering from colorectal cancer or there is a possibility of developing this disease in the future.

Is Colorectal Cancer Curable?

Half of the patients with colorectal cancer get cured by having the malignant tumour removed through colon cancer surgery. However, treatment and survival are only possible when the disease gets diagnosed in the early stage when it is localised in the bowel or large intestine.

If the cancer cells spread to the nearby organs, surgery is combined with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or targeted therapy to shrink the cancer cells either before or after surgical intervention. Also, in the advanced stages, treatment becomes more complicated and costly.

Conclusion

The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgery recommend individuals consider starting cancer screening at age 45. If you fall under the high-risk category, make sure to get yourself checked at least every 3 years. Remember, early detection is the key to a successful colon cancer surgery.