Modern Health Observation

Posts Tagged ‘colon cancer causes’

What is colon cancer?

The colon is part of the digestive tract between the small intestine and rectum which occurs in fluid absorption from the intestinal contents and feces are formed. Colon cancer is currently an important public health problem in developed countries. It is the fourth most common cancer in the world. In Spain, there are approximately 19,000 new cases each year.

What are its causes?

It is a cancer whose incidence and mortality is higher in industrialized countries. Approximately 80% of cases are sporadic, but 20% have a genetic influence, with increased familial risk in the need for greater monitoring and control.

Age is a key risk factor, with a sharp increase in incidence after age 50. The presence of a first degree relative who has had double the risk, and quadrupled if the diagnosis of cancer occurred before 60 years of age. The increased incidence is closely related to lifestyle in industrialized countries.

There are different risk factors in relation to colon cancer: the consumption of fats and red meats, especially canned meats or deli meats, obesity, smoking and high alcohol consumption and diabetes associated with obesity . Patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis is most at risk with respect to the general population, especially in Crohn’s disease (risk 20 times higher).
What are the symptoms?

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