Can inflammatory bowel disease cause colon cancer?

Question: Can inflammatory bowel disease cause colon cancer?

Answer: People who suffer from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk for colon cancer because the tissue of the colon is inflamed for a long period of time.

Ulcerative colitis increases the risk more than Chron's disease but in general, the longer you've had IBD, the greater your chances of developing colon cancer. This is because inflamed areas of the colon can give rise to abnormally-developed cells, which in time, can give rise to cancer cells.

The American Cancer Society recommends that anyone with IBD receive a colonoscopy 8 to 12 years after their initial diagnosis and another colonoscopy every year or two after that.

You can learn more about IBD by visiting About's Irritable Bowel/Chron's Disease site.

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