What are the causes of rectal cancer

What are the causes of rectal cancer? The causes of rectal cancer are still not very clear, but it is generally believed that the following factors have a very important relationship with cancer. Let's take a look at them together.

1. Dietary factors

High-fat foods such as meat, high-protein foods and low-fiber foods such as starch, potatoes, carrots, etc. have a very important relationship with the occurrence mechanism of rectal cancer. High-fat diets can not only stimulate the increase of bile secretion, but also promote the synthesis of cholesterol and lithocholic acid in the liver, thereby increasing in the intestinal cavity. Under the action of colon bacteria, it is converted into cholesterol metabolites and bile acid, which has a carcinogenic effect. Low-fiber foods do not absorb water, reduce the frequency of bowel movements, increase the residence of waste in the intestine, prolong the residence time of feces in the large intestine, increase the long-term contact between carcinogens and the large intestine mucosa, and thus become one of the causes of rectal cancer. Both high fat and low fiber are carcinogens or co-carcinogens, thus increasing the occurrence of rectal cancer.

2. Genetic Factors

Genetic factors are one of the causes of rectal cancer. In the families of rectal cancer patients, about 1/4 of new patients have a family history of rectal cancer. Relatives who have had rectal cancer are more likely to suffer from the disease in their lifetime than the general population. The cell genetic genes change, causing malignant cells with the genetic characteristics of the tumor, forming a familial pattern of malignant tumors.

3. Rectal polyps

Rectal polyps are one of the main factors for the development of rectal cancer. Rectal polyps are the main cause of precancerous lesions, especially familial multiple adenomatous polyposis, which has a higher chance of canceration. The canceration rate of papillary adenomatous polyps is about 25%, and the malignant transformation of tubular adenomatous polyps is also not uncommon.

4. Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Long-term chronic inflammation may be one of the factors causing rectal cancer. Chronic inflammatory stimulation can cause the occurrence of rectal cancer, such as chronic bacterial infection of schistosomiasis, amoebic dysentery, chronic nonspecific ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, chronic bacillary dysentery, etc., which can cause granulomas in the mucosa and can develop into cancer through the granuloma, inflammatory and pseudopolyp stages.

Therefore, people at high risk of rectal cancer need to learn to self-examine and be familiar with the various precursors of rectal cancer. Once they find anything abnormal, they must seek medical attention as soon as possible for early diagnosis and early treatment, so as to improve the cure rate of rectal cancer.