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Hereditary Risk of Colon Cancer

Posted on | July 25, 2010 | 1 Comment

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According to Steven Laken, a researcher from Johns Hopkins University, of about 130,000 colon cancer cases diagnosed every year, 50 to 85 percent have no significant genetic component. Other researchers guess that 5 to 10 percent of all colon cancer cases are considered hereditary. This is rather interesting because breast cancer cases have the same percentage for genetic factors.

How to know the probability of colon cancer in your family? There are a few things you should do to know if your family has genetic predispositions to this disease. In the past several years, two genetic test types are made available to detect inherited colorectal cancer:

1. HNPCC (Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer, also known as Lynch syndrome) is the most common type of inherited colon cancer. It can be effectively diagnosed by the age forty-five or fifty. Families with this colon cancer type also usually have one or more family members with endometrial, ovarian, or other cancers types. 2. FAP (Familial Adenomatous Polyposis) is a rare colon cancer type that usually strikes people under 40 years old. This test is currently commercially available.

Genetic screening for HNPCC or FAP should only be performed along with a dependable genetic counseling and these tests only inform you whether you has a higher than average risks of getting the colon cancer.

Stating the obvious, the earlier someone knows about his/her probability for colon cancer, the better. An expert panel determined that about eighteen thousands lives could be saved every year if they are thoroughly screened by the age of fifty. Routine screening can detect cancers and tumors in their earliest and most treatable stages. If a cancer case is found early, there is a ninety percent chance that it can be cured. However, only forty percent of colon cancers are known early. As mentioned by the Harvard Health Letter, if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, the ‘five years’ survival rate drops to fifty percent. If the cancer has spread to the liver, the survival rate drops to less than three percent.

The bottom line is that everyone should to get early screening early and then maintain the schedule (every ten years for a colonoscopy). For people with genetic disposition to colon cancer they should still follow the diet and lifestyle suggestions that can help to prevent colon cancer. The preventive steps may delay the colon cancer development.

About the Author

John has been providing articles since 2006. His latest website is about a less tragic subject and can be found at http://www.suzukimotorcycleparts.org/, which help Suzuki fans located cheap Suzuki Motorcycle Parts and accessories.

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One Response to “Hereditary Risk of Colon Cancer”

  1. Linda Bruzzone
    July 25th, 2010 @ 08:30

    Thank you very much for your well balanced article. It is projected approximately 600,000 individuals have Lynch syndrome, however less than five percent are currently diagnosed. The others are left unaware and vulnerable to contracting the myriad of cancers to which Lynch syndrome predisposes them.

    Genetic testing is the closest thing to a cure for those with Lynch syndrome. Once diagnosed, individuals qualify to receive annual medical testing during which time growths can be detected and removed prior to becoming cancerous and in the event of early cancers, treatment can be effected. The end result is lives are saved and individuals without a hope of longevity without genetic testing, now can live.

    Please join us at http://www.lynchcancers.com to learn more about Lynch syndrome.

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