Understanding colorectal cancer
What you need to know about one of the most common cancers
Caribbean L 24 ife, MARCH 5-11, 2021
and give doctors a chance to remove
them before they turn into cancer.
What are the risk factors for colorectal
cancer?
Age is a significant risk factor for
colorectal cancer, as the CDC notes
that roughly 90 percent of cases occur
in men and women who are 50 or
older. In addition to age, a family history
of colorectal cancer or colorectal
polyps increases a person’s risk for the
disease. Inflammatory bowel diseases
like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
also can increase a person’s risk of
developing colorectal cancer.
Those factors may be beyond individuals’
control, but the good news
is that there is strong evidence that
doing certain things can decrease the
risk of colorectal cancer. According
to the WCRF, researchers have linked
these behaviors with a decreased risk
of colorectal cancer:
• being physically active
• consuming whole grains
• consuming foods that contain dietary
fiber
• consuming dairy products
It’s important to recognize that the
inverse of these behaviors (i.e., living
a sedentary lifestyle, not consuming
enough whole grains, etc.) can increase
a person’s risk of colorectal cancer.
The WCRF notes that consuming
red meat, consuming processed meat,
consuming alcohol, being overweight
or obese, and being tall have been
linked to an elevated risk of colorectal
cancer.
When to consider screening
The U.S. Preventive Services Task
Force recommends that adults between
the ages of 50 and 75 should be screened
for colorectal cancer. Adults with a family
history of the disease or those with
an inflammatory bowel disease may
need to be tested prior to turning 50.
Colorectal cancer is a significant
threat, particularly for adults over
50. Adults must recognize that threat
and discuss it with their physicians to
reduce their risk for this often preventable
disease.
— Metro Creative Connection
No one is immune to cancer.
People of all ages and from
all walks of life can be diagnosed
with cancer, though it’s
important to recognize the tireless
efforts of researchers whose work has
done much to improve survival rates
for an assortment of cancers.
The work of cancer researchers
includes efforts to find treatments but
also to learn about the disease, including
its risk factors. Identifying the risk
factors for certain cancers, including
colorectal cancer, can help medical professionals
as they advise patients on the
best ways to reduce their risk for this
deadly, yet often preventable disease.
The World Cancer Research Fund
notes that colorectal cancer is the second
most commonly occurring cancer
in women and the third most commonly
occurring cancer in men. According
to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, colorectal cancer is the
second leading cancer killer in the
United States.
Estimates from the Canadian Cancer
Society predicted that 9,700 Canadians
would lose their lives to colorectal cancer
in 2020, representing 12 percent of
all cancer deaths in the country.
What is colorectal cancer?
Sometimes referred to as colon cancer,
colorectal cancer is cancer that
occurs in the colon or rectum. The
CDC notes that abnormal growths
called polyps sometimes form in the
colon or rectum, and these polyps may
grow into cancer.
Why is screening so important?
Screening for colorectal cancer is so
important because it can find polyps
The World Cancer Research Fund notes that colorectal cancer is the second most commonly
occurring cancer in women and the third most commonly occurring cancer in men.
Metro Creative Connection
Health