The Risk Factors

Heredity is the most important factor in the development of colon polyps and cancer. Individuals whose parents, brothers or sisters have colon polyps or cancer are at an increased risk of developing colon polyps or cancer themselves. In fact, the more relatives an individual has who develop polyps or cancer, and the earlier in life those people do so, the more likely that individual will develop polyps or cancer as well. Certain conditions, such as heredity polyposis, lead to colon cancer 100 percent of the time. In addition, females who have had genital or breast cancer are at an increased risk of developing colon cancer. Finally, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, over time, can also lead to colon malignancy.