Risk factors for colorectal cancer include the following:
- Age 50 or older
- A family history of cancer of the colon or rectum
- A personal history of cancer of the colon, rectum, ovary, endometrium, or breast
- A history of polyps in the colon; some polyps have a stalk and others do not
- A history of ulcerative colitis (ulcers in the lining of the large intestine) or Crohn's disease
- Certain hereditary conditions, such as familial adenomatous polyposis and hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC; Lynch Syndrome)