10. Inflammation: The Smoldering Fire Within
Inflammation is like your body’s own fire department, rushing to the site of injury or infection to fight off invaders. But what happens when this fire rages uncontrollably, turning into a chronic state? The consequences can be dire, especially for your colon and rectum, tissues that are particularly sensitive to inflammation.
The mechanism is complex but boils down to a hyperactive immune response. While inflammation is a natural and beneficial process, chronic inflammation can cause cellular damage. These damaged cells then require rapid division to repair tissues, increasing the chance of mutations and, subsequently, the risk of cancer.
What makes the topic of inflammation so intriguing is the range of factors that can contribute to it. Poor diet, stress, environmental pollutants—all of these can act as kindling to the smoldering fire within. It’s not one isolated spark but an amalgamation of multiple contributing elements.
One less-discussed element in inflammation’s role in colorectal cancer is the gut microbiome. Yes, those microscopic residents again. An imbalanced microbiome can produce metabolites that promote inflammation, forming a vicious cycle that is hard to break. It’s like a biological loop where each factor feeds off the other.
To bring some complexity into perspective, consider autoimmune diseases like Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis. These conditions themselves cause chronic inflammation and significantly elevate the risk for colorectal cancer. They serve as real-life examples of how an unchecked inflammatory response can lead to disastrous outcomes, even with the body’s best intentions. (10)
