Women who smoke are at twice the risk of developing cancer of the rectum and the risk goes up with the increase in number of cigarettes smoked per day, smoke duration and older age at smoking cessation.

Quoting a study published in the Journal of National Cancer Institute, Dr. KK Aggarwal said that women should never smoke. Current smokers are 95% more likely to develop rectal cancer. Younger adults can develop colorectal cancer, but the chances increase markedly after age 50. More than 9 out of 10 people diagnosed with colorectal cancer are older than 50.

History of adenomatous polyps (adenomas), especially if they are large, increase the risk of cancer.

If you have had colorectal cancer, even though it has been completely removed, you are more likely to develop new cancers in other areas of the colon and rectum. The chances of this happening are greater if you had your first colorectal cancer when you were younger.

Though the no. 1 cancer in women in urban areas is breast cancer and in rural areas is cancer of the cervix, the cancer of the rectum is on the rise.