Five critical risk factors increasing colon cancer rates

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

KAYSERI, TURKEY — Colon (colorectal) cancer, the third most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide, is increasing at an alarming rate, especially among individuals under 45, primarily due to changing dietary habits and lifestyle factors.

While 70 percent of colon cancer cases in the community emerge unpredictably, experts draw attention to the critical role of genetic predispositions and environmental factors in the disease's development. Medical Oncology Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Halit Karaca issued vital warnings regarding the causes of colon cancer, the importance of early diagnosis, and modern treatment methods.

Main causes increasing colon cancer risk

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Halit Karaca from the Medical Oncology Department of Memorial Kayseri Hospital, approximately 20 to 25 percent of patients have a strong family history. This demonstrates how decisive hereditary mutations are in the emergence of the disease. The main factors increasing the risk of colon cancer are listed as follows:

• Age: Excluding cases caused by hereditary genetics, the average age of patients diagnosed with colon cancer is over 65.

• Family history: Having a case of colon cancer in the family directly increases a person's risk of contracting this disease. Genetic conditions such as HNPCC, FAP, and Peutz-Jegher polyposis are significant risk factors.

  
  

• Adenomas identified in colonoscopy: The presence of polyps with the highest level of cancer risk, specifically villous and tubulovillous adenomas.

• Inflammatory bowel disease: While the incidence of cancer is 0.5 percent in the first 10 to 20 years after the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, this rate increases to 1 percent in the following years. Crohn's disease also elevates the risk if present in the ileocolic region.

• Environment and lifestyle: Excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, obesity, a diet heavily reliant on processed long-shelf-life foods, insulin resistance, immune system suppression, and exposure to excessive radiation are among the environmental factors that trigger the risk.

  
  

Early diagnosis and modern treatment methods

Early diagnosis of colon cancer has a direct impact on survival time and overall quality of life. Thanks to clinical examinations and regular screening programs, the disease can be caught at earlier stages. Advances in imaging technologies and improvements in surgical techniques, along with innovations in chemotherapy and radiotherapy, significantly extend the lifespan of patients.

Especially in the fight against cancerous cells that have spread, or metastasized, to other parts of the body, correctly planned chemotherapy protocols, new generation smart drugs (targeted therapies), and immunotherapies offer high success rates.

The power of chemotherapy against the risk of recurrence

The main goal of chemotherapy in colon cancer treatment is to destroy fast-growing cancer cells in the body. The medications are generally administered intravenously or orally in tablet form. The treatment is often applied as an addition to other methods like surgery, radiation, or immunotherapy to shrink the tumor before surgical intervention or to minimize the risk of recurrence afterward.

This specific postoperative approach, known as adjuvant chemotherapy, mostly starts within eight weeks after surgery. Even if there is no evidence of cancer left in the body after the operation, this treatment method is highly recommended for high-risk patients. Conditions such as the spread of cancer cells to nearby lymph nodes, the formation of a perforation (tear) in the intestine, or the tumor causing an intestinal obstruction increase the risk of recurrence, once again revealing the absolute necessity of personalized treatment planning.

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