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Q: I have read a lot about bowel cancer lately and would be interested in knowing whether there are any factors which increase the probability of acquiring the disease.
A: There are various known factors which increase the probability of developing cancer of the colon and/or rectum. First of all, the number of affected individuals increase as age increases. In particular, there is a sharp increase after age 40, and most cases occur after age 50. Other factors which increase the risk of acquiring the disease include a history of having had polyps in the past and, in particular, the previous presence of a class of polyps referred to as adenomatous polyps, the presence of this disease in other family members, certain genetics abnormalities, the presence of ulcerative colitis, and a low fiber diet.
Screening for cancer of the colon and/or rectum is recommended for all persons who are 50 years of age or older with annual fecal blood testing and/or sigmoidoscopy. In particular, screening sigmoidoscopy ( a test in which a flexible tube is inserted through the anus to evaluate the large bowel up to a part called sigmoid)is currently recommended to be performed every five years in these persons. High-risk patients should be more frequently screened. Persons who have a single family member who had the disease after age 55 should start having periodic screening for the disease already at age 40. Furthermore, patients who have two family members who had the disease after age 55 or one family member who had the disease before age 45 should be screened with colonoscopy ( a test in which a flexible tube is inserted through the anus up to evaluate the large bowel up to the colon).
Updated: 12/21/98
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