What causes colon rectal cancer?

In most cases, the precise cause is unknown but there are a number of contributory factors which include:
- A family history of colorectal cancer, polyps or inflammatory bowel disease. Approximately 5% of cancers of the colon occur in families with a predisposition to the disease.
- It usually occurs in people over 50.
- Women are at a slightly higher risk than men.
- Those in industrialised parts of the worlds are more susceptible.
- It is thought that a high-meat, high-fat, low- fibre diet encourages the production of carcinogens (cancer-causing substances).