Individuals at higher than average risk for colorectal cancer have one or more of the following characteristics or behaviors:

Age: The risk of developing colorectal cancer (incidence) increases with age in men and women; incidence (expressed as per 100,000 people per year) is six times higher among persons aged 65 years and older than among persons aged 40 to 64 years. More than 70% of newly diagnosed colorectal cancers occur in persons aged 65 years and older.

Gender and Race: At all ages, men are more likely to develop colorectal cancer than women. Between 1991-95, the incidence rate of colorectal cancer was 54.4 per 100,000 among men and 38.2 per 100,000 among women. In this same time period, men were more likely to die from colorectal cancer (21.9 per 100,000) than women (14.9 per 100,000). African Americans have higher colorectal cancer incidence and mortality rates overall than men and women of other racial and ethnic groups (Tables 1 and 3).

Familial Factors: An individual who has an inherited susceptibility syndrome, such as familial adenomatous polyposis or hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer, with known alterations of cancer susceptibility genes, has a significantly increased risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Personal Factors: A personal history of colon cancer, colorectal adenomatous polyps or long-standing inflammatory bowel disease also increases the likelihood of developing colorectal cancer.

Behavioral Factors: A diet high in animal fats (particularly associated with red meat) is thought to increase the risk for developing colorectal cancer, while a diet high in vegetables, fruits and fiber is considered protective. Obesity has been shown to increase the risk for colon cancer in men.

Participation in regular physical activity may reduce a person’s risk for developing colon cancer. Postmenopausal women who use hormone replacement therapy and men and women who use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs regularly over two decades may have decreased risk for colon cancer and other cancers of the digestive tract. Both high intake of alcohol and use of tobacco products are associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer.