Can erosive colitis become cancerous?

Erosive colitis

is a chronic, recurrent inflammatory disease of the colon and rectum mucosa. According to studies, about 5% to 8% of people with erosive colitis develop colon cancer after the disease lasts for 10 years or more, and the risk of cancer increases with the duration of the disease. When the disease lasts for more than 20 years, the risk of cancer increases further. However, not all people with erosive colitis develop colorectal cancer because the risk of developing cancer is related to a variety of factors, including the severity of the inflammation, duration of the disease, family history, age, etc. Good treatment and methods of controlling inflammation can also reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer.