Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in the United States, killing roughly 50,000 Americans every year — and a significant percentage of those deaths were preventable.
Age: The Risk Doesn’t Announce Itself
The single biggest risk factor for colorectal cancer is age. Risk increases meaningfully after 45 and continues climbing with each decade. Colorectal cancer rarely announces itself in its early stages. By the time symptoms appear — rectal bleeding, changes in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss — the cancer has often progressed. Age-based screening exists to find the disease before symptoms develop.
Family History: Your Relatives’ History Is Part of Yours
A first-degree family history (parent, sibling, or child) of colorectal cancer roughly doubles your risk. If diagnosed before age 60, the risk is higher still, and the recommendation is to begin screening at 40 (or ten years before the youngest family member’s diagnosis). Lynch syndrome and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) carry significantly elevated lifetime risk and warrant genetic counseling.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis increase colorectal cancer risk proportionally to the extent and duration of bowel involvement. Patients with IBD affecting the colon for eight or more years are typically on a surveillance colonoscopy schedule.
The Modifiable Risk Factors: What You Can Actually Change
Excess body weight — particularly visceral fat — promotes tumor development throughout the GI tract. Physical inactivity independently increases risk; 150+ minutes per week of moderate exercise is meaningfully protective. Diet high in red and processed meats is consistently associated with increased risk — the WHO classifies processed meats as a Group 1 carcinogen for colorectal cancer.
For adults in Southeast Texas, where this dietary pattern is culturally common, this is a particularly relevant consideration. Alcohol consumption and tobacco smoking both increase risk. Type 2 diabetes carries a 30–40% increased risk — notably high in this region.
Schedule Your Screening at Your GI Center
Call 1-888-292-0010 | yourgicenter.com
- South Houston: 12951 South Freeway, Houston, TX 77047
- Lake Jackson: 109 Parking Way, Lake Jackson, TX 77566
- Bay City: 720 Avenue F North, Bay City, TX 77414
Understanding your risk is step one. Doing something about it is step two.
