Adenoma colon family history

Colorectal cancer is the third most common non-skin cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the U.S. It is also the second leading cause of cancer deaths. Still, colorectal cancer is highly curable when it is detected early enough. Colorectal cancer, or “colon cancer” for short, is a result of cancer cells that form in the lining of the colon (large intestine) or rectum. Timely screenings can detect colon polyps, which are abnormal growths that sometimes become cancerous.

Colorectal cancer often begins as a benign growth known as a polyp. Adenomas are a type of polyp. These are benign tumors of the tissue lining the colon or rectum. Most polyps will stay benign, but some adenomas have the potential to turn into cancer over the long term. If they are removed early, this prevents them from turning into cancer.

Some risk factors for getting colorectal cancer are beyond your control. The following all increase the risk of getting colorectal cancer:

• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Colon polyps
• Age over 50
• Family history of colorectal cancer
• History of breast or ovarian cancer

However, there are other risk factors for colorectal cancer that you can control. The following risk factors can be modified:

• Eating a diet high in red or processed meat, or eating meat cooked at high temperatures
• Overweight or obesity
• Inadequate exercise
• Cigarette smoking
• Drinking alcohol

Screening is important because colorectal cancer in its early stages usually doesn’t produce any symptoms. Screening can detect the cancer before it produces symptoms, when it is most curable. After the disease begins to spread, it can produce blood in the stool, changes in bowel patterns (like diarrhea or constipation), abdominal pain, weight loss, or fatigue. Tumors that cause symptoms are typically larger and harder to treat.

It is recommended that most people have a colonoscopy screening every 10 years, starting at age 50. Some expert groups recommend starting at age 45. A colonoscopy allows examination of the entire colon and rectum using a tiny camera. This test can find cancers in the early, most treatable stage and actually prevent cancers from developing by removing polyps.