Gastrointestinal Cancers: Causes, Risk Factors, Prevention

The causes of most gastrointestinal cancers are unknown.

Factors that may increase your chance of gastrointestinal cancer include:

• Age: 50-60
• Smoking or smokeless tobacco use
• Alcohol intake
• Obesity
• High body mass index
• Personal history of cancer
• Family history of cancer
• Polyps

Beginning at age 50, both men and women should follow one of the five screening options listed below:

• Yearly fecal occult blood test or fecal immunochemical test
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 3-5 years
• Double contrast barium enema every 5 years
• Colonoscopy every 10 years

Be sure to discuss these cancer screening tools with your doctor to see which option is best for you.

People with any of the following risk factors should begin colorectal cancer screening earlier at age 40 and/or undergo screening more often:

• Strong family history of colorectal cancer or polyps
• Known family history of hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes
• Personal history of colorectal cancer or polyps
• Personal history of chronic inflammatory bowel disease

To help prevent cancer:

• Don’t smoke or use other tobacco products. If you smoke, quit.
• Drink alcohol only in moderation