Colorectal cancer causes

Overview
Many times, doctors do not know what the direct cause of colon cancer is. The cancer develops as it does with many other forms of cancer. Healthy, normally dividing cells of colon begin to continue dividing even when new cells are not needed. These growths from the new cells can become cancerous over time.

Causes

 * Polyps
 * These are pre-cancerous cells that can appear mushroom shaped. It is important to have polyps removed before they have a chance to become cancerous


 * Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC)
 * HNPCC can cause the development of colon cancer before the age of 50.
 * Increases risk of other cancers not just colon cancer.
 * It can be detected by genetic testing.


 * Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
 * It is rare.
 * It causes there to be many polyps growing on the lining of the colon and rectum.
 * Polyps can develop into cancers.


 * Smoking
 * There is a controversial link between smoking and colon cancer.
 * Studies have shown that smoking does cause the likelihood of the development of colorectal polyps doubles.
 * From a reported 19 studies, one group was able to compile the following data.
 * In 100,000 smokers,there were 65.5 cases of colon cancer
 * In 100,000 non smokers, there were 54.7 cases.