Risk Factors

Risk factors for colorectal cancer include:

Ulcerative colitis, sometimes called panulcerative colitis.
Familial or multiple polyposis: a disease occurring in some families that consists of multiple adenomatous polyps of the colon which have high malignant potential. Also called familial polyposis colonae, polyposis coli, familial intestinal polyposis, hereditary gastrointestinal polyposis, multiple familial polyposis, Gardner's syndrome, Peutz-Jaegher's syndrome, Canada-Cronkhite syndrome, or Turcot syndrome.
Crohn's disease: a benign chronic granulomatous inflammatory disease of any or all parts of the colon.
Diet that is low in fiber, causing digestion to be slowed and transit time through the bowel to be increased.
Patient history of colon or rectal cancer.
Patient history of colon or rectal polyps.
Family history of colorectal cancer or female genital cancer.