Cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking may make colorectal cancer more likely to occur in middle-aged and elderly men.
This study looked at how cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption affects an individual's propensity to develop colorectal cancer. A total of 90,004 middle-aged and elderly Japanese men and women enrolled for this study and their diet, lifestyle, and health were assessed.
Researchers observed that men who were smokers and alcohol drinkers faced increased risk of colorectal cancer. About 46% of all cases of colorectal cancer in middle-aged and older Japanese adults were attributed to cigarette smoking and alcohol intake, according to this study. "In conclusion, approximately half of the colorectal cancer cases may be preventable by tobacco and alcohol controls in middle-aged and elderly Japanese men," the authors noted.