Is rectal cancer a genetic disease?

When it comes to rectal cancer, people are no longer unfamiliar with it. Rectal cancer is already the second most common cancer. So is rectal cancer a genetic disease? Many people are very concerned about this issue. Let us first look at the factors that cause rectal cancer.

1. Fat: Increased absorption of fat and cholesterol will increase the risk of colorectal cancer, while increased fiber intake will reduce the occurrence of colorectal cancer.

2. pH of feces: The strong alkaline environment in the intestine increases the concentration of free bile acids and other potential carcinogens. Free bile acids induce intestinal mucosal hyperplasia and cancer.

3. Inflammatory colon diseases: ulcerative enteritis, Crohn's disease.

4. Intestinal polyps: Adenomatous polyps are divided into tubular or villous. The incidence of tubular adenomas is 4 times higher than that of villous adenomas. Larger ones are more likely to become malignant. 50% of polyps with a diameter of more than 2 cm will become malignant. Among patients with 1 tubular polyp, 25% may develop more polyps. Tubular adenomas are regularly distributed throughout the large intestine, while villous adenomas are often distributed in the rectum. The chance of villous adenomas becoming malignant is 8-10 times higher than that of tubular adenomas.

5. Genetic factors: (1) 10%-15% of colorectal cancers occur in families where there is a first-degree relative with colorectal cancer; (2) The detection rate of adenoma in people with a family history of colorectal cancer is 21%-40% when undergoing colonoscopy; (3) Syndromes that predispose to colorectal cancer include familial adenomatous polyposis and hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer.

Through the above points, we know that genetic factors are only one of the causes of rectal cancer, but not absolute. More importantly, we should pay attention to lifestyle and dietary factors, and seek medical treatment as soon as possible when problems are found to avoid delaying the disease. If you have other questions, please consult our online experts. I wish you good health.