Risk factors and screening for colon cancer

Colon and rectal cancer are usually grouped under the term «colorectal cancer». It should be noted that damage to the colon is significantly more common. In terms of prevalence, colorectal cancer ranks fourth in the overall structure of oncological pathology, and in some countries, it even ranks third after lung and stomach cancer. Risk factors contributing to the development of colorectal cancer include diffuse intestinal polyposis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and genetic predisposition. Most often, malignancy of the process occurs at the site of adenomatous or dysplastic lesions of the intestinal mucosa. Due to the high risk of neoplastic disease affecting a fairly large number of elderly people, it is recommended that every person over 50 years old undergo mandatory screening to detect a latent form of cancer. The simplest, but at the same time insufficiently informative method is to conduct a blood culture test, i.e. an analysis for the presence of blood in the stool. The method of total colonoscopy and double-contrast X-ray examination is distinguished by higher information content, but, accordingly, higher cost. These studies are recommended to be carried out every three to five years after reaching the age of 50 years in individuals without clinical manifestations, and after reaching the age of 40 years for those at risk for developing colorectal cancer.