Ulcerative Colitis & Rectal Cancer: The Risk

People who have ulcerative colitis are at a larger risk than the general population for acquiring colon cancer. This does not mean that someone with ulcerative colitis will get cancer. The risk of developing rectal cancer, however, does increase five-fold for those that suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, including ulceative colitis. With ulcerative colitis there are two factors that are important in determining a patient's risk. The length of time a person has had ulcerative colitis and the extent of their disease. The longer a patient has had colitis the greater their risk for developing colon cancer. This risk goes up even more for those who have had the disease for more than ten years. The extent to which a patient has the disease is also a determining factor for rectal cancer. When the entire colon is involved the risk is greater, and when only the rectum is involved the chances are at their minimum. Some of the risk factors to take into consideration include:

Family History: The risk for developing colon cancer goes up if you have close blood relatives that have also had colon cancer.

Race: A person's ethnic background is also influential. Ulcerative Colitis happens more commonly among Jews that descend from Eastern Europe and among African Americans. It is not certain why a person's ethnic background is such an influential factor, but is being studied extensively.

Polyps and Previous Cancer: Polyps can be found in the colon when there is inflammation or during active periods of ulcerative colitis. Not all polyps are cancerous. There are some, however, that increase the risk for colorectal cancer, particularly if there are several polyps or are large in size. If you have had colorectal cancer before and it has been removed, your chances for reacquiring it are still greater than would be if you had not suffered from cancer before.

Diet: A diet that is high in red meat increases your risk for acquiring colon cancer. Processed meats (lunch meat, hotdogs, etc.) also increases this risk. It has been shown that those who consume more fruits and vegetables are at a lower risk for getting cancer. Weight is an important factor to consider as well. Those who are overweight or obese have a greater chance of dying from colon cancer. Exercising will help to control your weight and will help to reduce the risks of getting colon cancer.

Lifestyle: Two very common habits that will increase your risk for developing colon cancer are smoking and consuming alcohol. Smoking increases the risk for developing many different kinds of cancer, but studies have also shown that long-time smokers have a greater chance of dying from colon cancer. Heavy alcohol consumption has also been associated with developing colorectal cancer.

Sources:
www.ccfa.org
www.mayoclinic.org
www.uoa.org