What Causes Colorectal Cancer? and How Many People Get Colorectal Cancer?

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(Free-Press-Release.com) December 30, 2004 -- What Causes Colorectal Cancer?

While we do not know the exact cause of most colorectal cancer, there are certain known risk factors. A risk factor is something that increases a person's chance of getting a disease. Some risk factors, like smoking, can be controlled. Others, such as a person's age, can't be changed. Researchers have found several risk factors that increase a person's chance of getting colorectal cancer.

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Risk Factors for Colorectal Cancer

> Family history Ethnic background Personal history of colorectal cancer Personal history of polyps Personal history of bowel disease Age Diet Lack of exercise Overweight Smoking Alcohol < Heavy use of alcohol has been linked to colorectal cancer.

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How Many People Get Colorectal Cancer?

Other than skin cancer, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer found in men and women in this country. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be about 106,370 new cases of colon cancer and 40,570 new cases of rectal cancer in 2004 in the United States. Combined, they will cause about 56,730 deaths.

The death rate from colorectal cancer has been going down for the past 15 years. One reason is that there are fewer cases. Also, they are being found earlier, and treatments have improved.

http://www.cancer.org/