RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH COLORECTAL CANCER

Abstract

In Brazil, colorectal cancer is the third most common type of tumor in the population, with approximately 40,000 new cases diagnosed annually. In 2020 alone, 20,540 new cases of colorectal cancer were registered in men and 20,470 cases in women, with estimated incidences of 9.1% and 9.2%, respectively. Colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignant neoplasms in the world. Although screening and treatment strategies have advanced, diagnosis is still often made at advanced stages. This study aims to identify risk factors in the literature that contribute to the development of colorectal cancer. This is an integrative literature review, analyzing studies published between 2020 and 2025, using the BVS and the MEDLINE, PREVCAN, and LILACS databases. The results analyzed the relationship between environmental risk factors, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, alcohol consumption, high-calorie diet, physical inactivity, and excessive consumption of red meat, and awareness of the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) in people with a family history of the disease. It was concluded that colorectal cancer is associated with modifiable risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, inadequate diet, and sedentary lifestyle.