It is much easier to find a cure for a disease if the cause is known. There are many diseases and illnesses around the globe where there has been no cause found. Experts know of many different triggers that can cause a disease to flare-up. Cancer, specifically colon cancer, has the same story. In a body that is healthy, cells grow and divide in a normal way to keep the body functioning normally. Cells continue to divide even when new cells are not needed when a cell becomes cancerous. The new cancer cells can invade and destroy the healthy tissue that is nearby. These cancerous cells can travel to other parts of the body, making them dangerous to the whole body. Although this is the main cause of cancer, colon cancer also has many different possible causes. Knowing the causes of colon cancer can help doctors diagnose colon cancer faster and it will help the patient get treatment as soon as possible.

Colon cancer usually will begin as clumps of precancerous cells called polyps. During the first stages of the cancer, the clumps are on the inside lining of the colon. Removing these polyps before they become cancerous can prevent colon cancer altogether. Doctors will be able to identify these clumps in a screening. They can appear mushroom-shaped, or they can be flat or can be deep into the wall of the colon. Getting screenings on the colon regularly will help doctors catch colon cancer early and prevent it from becoming dangerous.

A family history of colon cancer can also be a cause of the disease. People are at a higher risk for colon cancer if they have one or more relatives that have had that this type of cancer. There are also two genetic syndromes that have been associated with causing colon cancer. The first genetic syndrome is called familial adenomatous polyposis, or FAP. It is a very rare disorder that causes a person to develop thousands of polyps in the lining of the colon and rectum. People who have untreated FAP have an increased risk of developing colon cancer before the age of 40. Colon cancer usually happens after people turn 50, so having it before that age is very uncommon. The next genetic syndrome is called hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, or HNPCC. This syndrome is also known as Lynch syndrome. This increases the risk of colon cancer as well as other cancers in a person’s lifetime. People with HNPCC will usually develop colon cancer before the age of 50, like with FAP. People can get genetic testing if they are worried about having FAP or HNPCC.

There is new evidence that suggests that a diet rich in fat and red meat may increase the risk of colon cancer. It has been proven that in countries where red meat is not a common food that people eat, colon cancer is rare. Japan, for example does not have a diet that is rich in red meat and colon cancer has been rare there. Colon cancer has become more common in that country as the diet becomes more westernized and red meat becomes a more popular food choice.

Other factors like heavy alcohol use, poor diet, smoking and obesity can also increase the risk of colon cancer. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is one of the best ways to lower the chances of colon cancer. Getting screened and understanding family history can also alert a person and their doctor to a possible cause of colon cancer. Knowing the cause of the cancer can help it be caught and treated quickly, which will help more people live a cancer-free life.