Are you at risk for colon cancer? Even if your risk factors are not hereditary, it's important to be aware of what risk factors can affect your chances. The risk of developing this disease is higher for people who have risk factors such as age, gender, and other health concerns. There are also risk factors that we can control like diet, exercise habits, smoking. Let's take a closer look at the risk factors for colon cancer.
Countrywide, awareness efforts about colorectal cancer have yielded positive results. Every year the mortality rate decreases and early detection continues to grow. Yet, this favorable news only applies to cases where patients are over the age of 50, i.e. “regular-onset colorectal cancer”. In contrast, the rate of young-onset colorectal cancer is on the rise. Currently, 11% of colon cancer diagnoses and 18% of rectal cancer diagnoses occur in people younger than 50.
