Colorectal cancer is a malignant tumor that seriously threatens human life and health, and ranks the 3rd in incidence rate among all kinds of malignant tumors. In recent years, with the development of economy and the improvement of people’s living standard, the incidence rate of colorectal cancer has shown a trend of increasing year by year. So, what are the risk factors and preventive factors of colorectal cancer?
What are the risk factors of colorectal cancer?
1.Age
The risk of colorectal cancer increases significantly after the age of 50. Most of the colorectal cancer cases are diagnosed at an age over 50 years old.
2.Family history of colorectal cancer
The risk of colorectal cancer increases 2 times if parents, siblings or children have a history of colorectal cancer.
3.Personal medical history
The risk of colorectal cancer increases with the following medical history.
(1) A history of colorectal cancer
(2) having a high-risk adenoma (colorectal polyp ≥ 1 cm in size that looks abnormal under the microscope)
(3) Having ovarian cancer.
(4) have inflammatory bowel disease (e.g. ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease).
4.Hereditary risk
Have familial adenomatous polyposis or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer with genetic alteration.
5.Drinking alcohol
Drinking more than 3 alcoholic beverages per day increases the risk of colorectal cancer. Alcohol consumption also increases the risk of large colorectal adenomas (benign tumors).
6.Smoking
Smoking increases the risk of colorectal cancer and the risk of death. Smoking also increases the risk of colorectal adenoma. Smoking increases the risk of recurrence of adenoma in patients who have undergone colorectal adenoma resection.
7. Obesity
Obesity increases the risk of colorectal cancer and the risk of death.
What are the preventive factors of colorectal cancer?
1.Physical exercise
Regular physical exercise can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.
2.Take aspirin
The results of a study showed that taking aspirin can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer and death. The risk reduction starts after 10-20 years of taking aspirin. However, taking aspirin every day or every other day (less than 100mg) increases the risk of stroke and gastrointestinal bleeding.
3. Combine with hormone replacement therapy
Some studies have shown that the use of hormone replacement therapy, including estrogen and progestin, in postmenopausal women can reduce the risk of invasive colorectal cancer.
4.Polyp removal
Most colorectal polyps are adenomas, which may develop into cancer. Removal of colorectal polyps larger than 1 cm in size may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. It is not clear whether removal of small colorectal polyps can reduce the risk of cancer.