How can you tell if a family has hereditary colon cancer?
Although there is not an easy test to determine if a family has
hereditary colon cancer, there are several clues that can help us
to identify which families may be affected by this disease:
|
•
|
When 3 or more close family members have been affected
with bowel cancer. Close relatives include parents, children,
brothers and sisters, grandparents, aunts and uncles, nieces
and nephews on one side of the family (either the mother's
side or father's side).
|
|
•
|
If any family members have had more than one cancer
(not a spreading of cancer, but 2 or more separate cancers).
|
|
•
|
Other types of cancer may be related to hereditary colon
cancer. It can be an important clue if relatives have had
any of the following: stomach, endometrium (uterus), kidney,
small bowel, ovarian or brain cancers.
|
|
•
|
If someone gets colon or rectal cancer under the age of 35,
there is a possibility that it could be hereditary even if
no one else in the family has had cancer.
|
|
|
|
Often, there will be a pattern of cancer in the family, where affected
family members are usually closely related. However, it does appear
that the disease can skip generations.
If you suspect that your family may have hereditary colon cancer,
it is important to contact a specialised medical centre that can
review your own unique family history. A family tree can be developed
which can help to provide some answers and recommendations for your
family.
|