Before understanding the causes and symptoms of colon cancer, it is important to know what colon cancer is. It develops in the large intestine and can affect people of all ages. Having said that, it’s most commonly seen in the elderly. Let’s look at the causes and risk factors of this disease:

Causes
The exact cause of colon cancer is still unknown. It generally begins when the DNA of the colon cells mutates and the cells fail to function properly. For the colon to function properly, its cells must develop and divide in a certain way, and DNA is the element that has information about how the cells must behave. So, when the DNA is impacted, the cells start dividing even when not required, which causes a tumor. The cancerous cells can continue dividing abnormally and spread to the nearby healthy cells. This stage is called the metastasizing of cancer, due to which the disease spreads to various other body parts.

Risk factors
Certain factors increase one’s chances of developing colon cancer. To understand the causes and symptoms of colon cancer, one must be aware of what makes one more susceptible to the condition:

• Older age : Colon cancer is more common among people over 50 years, but it can also affect younger people.
• Race : African-Americans are at increased risk of developing the disease.
• History of colon cancer : If one had this medical condition earlier, there is a higher risk of recurrence.
• Inheritance : If there is a history of colon cancer, Lynch syndrome, or familial adenomatous polyposis in the family, one may also be affected by colon cancer.
• Lifestyle : People with a sedentary lifestyle or maintaining a high-fat, low-fiber diet face a higher risk of developing colon cancer. People who smoke and consume a lot of alcohol are also at a higher risk.
• Diabetes : If one has diabetes or any medical condition that causes insulin resistance, they face a higher risk of this form of cancer.
• Radiation therapy : People who have had radiation therapy for the treatment of cancer in the abdomen are at increased risk of developing colon cancer.
• Obesity : People who are overweight or obese have a higher chance of developing colon cancer.

Symptoms
Colon cancer may not manifest any symptoms in most people during the early stages. As the disease progresses, a variety of signs manifest, depending on the location and severity of cancer. This is a list of the most common symptoms:

• Changes in bowel habits, which seem to persist
• Blood in stool or rectal bleeding
• Continuous abdominal pain, gas, or cramps
• Fatigue and persistent weakness
• Sudden weight loss

One should be aware of the causes and symptoms of colon cancer and consult a doctor for early diagnosis if any of these are noticed.