Colon cancer , often also called colorectal cancer, is one of the most lethal types of cancer in men and women. Increasing awareness about the risk factors of this condition is thus all the more important. While some of these factors cannot be avoided, others can be eliminated. So, when you know about the risks, you can stay cautious and seek help even if you notice mild signs pointing to the possibility of a tumor developing.

Here are some colon cancer risk factors to know about:

1. Risk Factors That Cannot Change
As far as colon cancer is concerned, these factors are insecapable.

• Age
  Colon cancer is more common in men after the age of 50. The symptoms of this cancer might sometimes be mild but people over 50 should not ignore the signs.
• History of Polyps in the Colon
  There are some people who develop benign polyps in the colorectal region and these are called adenomatous polyps. Although these polyps themselves are harmless in most cases, they can significantly increase the risk of colon cancer. Larger the polyp, higher the risks.
• Family History
  This factor plays a major role in most cancer types. So, if you have a close family member diagnosed with this type of cancer, you might be in the high risk group. Family history of adenomatous polyp should also be seen as a risk factor.

2. Risk Factors That Can Be Eliminate
As you can see, you can do nothing about the above risk factors. But there are also some aspects with respect to your lifestyle and diet that can increase the colorectal cancer risks. Here are those risks that you can eliminate.

• Sedentary Lifestyle
  People who are inactive most of the time are known to be at a higher risk of developing this cancer. This could be because you have a job that involves extended hours of sitting in the same place or because you never exercise. Including simple daily stretches or even a morning walk, staying active in small ways, like taking the stairs and not the elevator can all lower the risks greatly.
• Obesity
  If your body mass index is way outside the healthy range or if you have a large hip circumference, the risks of colon cancer increase. Lowering your body weight and leading an active lifestyle would be a good way to eliminate this risk.
• Unhealthy Habits
  Smoking opens up the possibilities for a lot of different cancer types besides lung cancer. Colorectal cancer risks also increase in people who smoke.

For treating colon cancer, the earlier you seek help, better the chances of successful treatment. So, know about the risks and look for any red flags to start therapy before the tumor spreads.