A new study has revealed that, smokers, drinkers and men are prone to higher incidences of colon cancer. Researchers at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Evanston said that the factors mentioned have a bearing on the position of the tumor, which holds the key to determining the ideal screening method to be adopted.
The researchers analyzed records of 161,172 patients with colorectal cancer, that showed alcohol and tobacco users were open to risks of cancer almost 7.8 years earlier, equivalent to ages 63.2 years for women and age 62.1 years in men, as compared to those who did not drink or smoke. Women seemed to be prone to early onset colon cancer, as compared to men.The scientists also found a connection between alcohol and tobacco consumption that increased the risk of distal colon cancer. The research also revealed that women in general, were not in the line of fire for distal colon cancer, as compared to their male counterparts.
The findings have been published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
