I have a strong family hx. of cancers including colon cancer. A lot of this depends on who else in your family had cancer and how old they were when they had it, as well as how many polyps you had removed and how large they were. For the most part, however, we usually do a follow-up colonoscopy three years after removal of a polyp. Colorectal cancers occur most often in people who are over the age of 50, and the risk increases as people get older. The more family members who have had colon cancer, the higher the risk.
Most colorectal cancers develop in certain types of polyps or tissue growths.
Polyps are non-cancerous, but they may become cancerous over time. The risk of developing colon cancer seems to be higher in people whose diet is high in fat and low in fiber. Ulcerative and Crohn's Colitis. These diseases cause inflammation of the lining of the colon. A history of these diseases increases the risk of colon cancer.