Bowel Cancer
Having relatives, especially first degree relatives such as parents, brothers, sisters or children with bowel cancer significantly increases your risk of developing the disease. Your risk of developing bowel cancer doubles if you have one close relative who is diagnosed with the disease and they are aged between 60 or 70.
However, if either of your parents is diagnosed with bowel cancer before age 55, you have a 6-fold increase in the risk of developing the disease. If two of your close relatives are diagnosed with bowel cancer (at any age), your risk increases by a similar amount.
Both men and women are at risk of developing bowel cancer. The risk is greater if you
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are aged 50 years or over. |
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have a family history of bowel cancer. |
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have a personal history of cancer of the colon, rectum, ovary, endometrium, or breast. |
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have a history of polyps in the colon. |
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have a history of ulcerative colitis (ulcers in the lining of the large intestine) or Crohn's disease. |
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have certain hereditary conditions, such as familial adenomatous polyposis and hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC; Lynch Syndrome). |
Having a change in one of the genes known as MLH1, MSH2 or MSH6, can increase a person’s risk of developing bowel cancer by age 70 to as high as 74%.
Genetic testing for colon cancer is an effective way to help warn patients early
Only genetic testing for colon cancer can determine whether you have a genetic mutation. The results of a genetic test can indicate which family members have inherited a mutated gene — and thus an increased risk of cancer.
This is important information, since it will affect your screening and prevention options, and indicate whether your children or siblings are at risk. Those family members who have the mutation will need to undergo more intensive screening and prevention efforts. Those who are free of the mutation will be able to follow the simpler cancer screening and prevention recommendations for the general public.
Please click here to read how to have the test done
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