I wanted to know whether colon cancer is a genetic disease?!
Question: My grandpa has colon cancer . Is there any chance that it might affect us too.
Answers:
Polyps are growths which develop in the colon and other parts of the body as well. They vary in size and appearance. They may look like a wart when small and when they grow they may appear like a cherry on a stem or fig. They are important because they can with time turn into cancer. Sometimes they can bleed causing anemia. A polyp is defined as a growth that projects, often on a stalk, from the lining of the intestine or rectum. Polyps of the colon and rectum are almost always benign and usually produce no symptoms. They may, however, cause painless rectal bleeding or bleeding not apparent to the naked eye. There may be single or multiple polyps. The incidence of polyps increases with age.
Both polyps as well as colon cancer occur much more frequently in industrialized, western societies. Diets low in fruits, vegetables, protein from vegetable sources and roughage are associated with a higher incidence of polyps. Persons smoking more than 20 cigarettes a day are 250% more likely to have polyps as opposed to nonsmokers who otherwise have the same risks. Persons who drink have an 87% increased likelihood of having polyps compared to nondrinkers and those who both smoke and drink are 400% more likely to develop polyps compared to their peers who neither smoke nor drink. There is increasing evidence that diets high in calcium can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. An even more potent agent in preventing colon cancer is the eating of vegetables. Apparently it isn't the fiber but it is likely that phytochemicals in vegetables act to prevent cancer. People who exercise daily are less likely to develop colon cancer. Polyps tend to cluster in families so that having a first degree relative ( sibling, parent or child ) with colon polyps raises ones chances of having polyps. The familial cancer syndromes such as Lynch Syndromes I and II ( rare ) carry a high risk of the development of colon and other cancers. Family adenomatous polyposis or FAP, is a rare condition characterized by thousands of adenomatous polyps throughout the large bowel. People with 1st degree relatives with inflammatory bowel disease are at increased risk and those who have a first degree relative with colon cancer have a fourfold increase in risk over the general population and should be screened earlier with colonoscopy and more often than the proposed outline for screening suggested by the American Cancer Society. There is an association of cancer risk with meat, fat or protein consumption which appear to break down in the gut into cancer causing compounds called carcinogens. A personal history of ovarian, endometrial, or breast cancer also appear to be risk factors.
Other Answers:
Nope. Cancer of any type is not genetic.
No I have been assured by a gastroenterologist that these type of cancers are non hereditary.
when someone has a positive family history of cancer,he or she can have the disease in the future,so yes i think it is genetic one.
Colon Cancer is occasionally inhereted.According to MD Anderson in Texas: " Approximately 5% of all colon (large bowel) cancers are directly caused by inherited genetic abnormalities. These hereditary colon cancers often feature colonic polyps or growths that eventually become cancerous. There are several kinds, including familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and a variant called Gardner's syndrome. Another type, hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC), features few if any polyps. Relatively rare hereditary conditions such as Peutz-Jeghers syndrome and juvenile polyposis are not cancer or precancerous conditions but confer on the patient a greater than normal risk of developing colon cancer. Many families with higher than normal rates of colon cancer have one or more of these conditions. While non-hereditary ("sporadic") colon cancer rarely occurs before age 40, hereditary colon cancers often occur in younger people.
Experts in hereditary colon cancers strongly recommend that people with unusually high rates of colon cancers in their families be surveyed regularly for cancerous growths, even if they have no symptoms. Colonoscopy is the most effective and most widely used method of surveillance for hereditary colon cancers. In colonoscopy, a narrow flexible tube is inserted into the colon through the rectum. At the end of the tube is a tiny light and video camera which allows the physician to see the inside of the colon.
Colonic polyps, or adenomas, are relatively easy to diagnose by colonoscopy. FAP and Gardner's syndrome are characterized by hundreds, even thousands, of polyps. If the disease is caught in the precancerous stage, cancer can be prevented by removing the colon surgically. If the disease has progressed to the cancerous stages, surgery may or may not be an effective treatment. In families known to carry a gene for one of these diseases, surveillance for polyps should begin at age 10 to 12."
You should be vigilant and learn more about colon cancer, so you can possibly prevent serious illness for yourself.
Source(s):
The University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Nursebone was right in many areas, but not all. First of all as a GI nurse, I can tell you that there are 3 main types of polyps in the colon. 2 types can stay in the colon for an eternity and one type can slowly turn into cancer after a slow growing period of about 7-10 years. The polyps in the rectum usually do not become cancer-but some can because it is possible to have 2 types at one time. The one's that cause cancer are usually in other parts of the colon-or large intestine.
I don't know if you could call polyps genetic but they do tend to run in families just like Diabetes. So, there is a predisposition. It doesn't have to be a first degree relative that has had it. It can be grandparents or even great-great grandparents or any aunt, uncle, cousin or greatuncle in the family that colon cancer is found in, for everyone down the line from then on is at risk. Polyps usually start to develop around the age of 50. That is why there is so much advertising these days to have a colonoscopy at the age of 50. For those folks that have a history of colon cancer in their family it is necessary to start having them sooner. Usually in the 40's. The rule of thumb is to have a colonoscopy 10 years before the age of diagnosis in the person that has had colon cancer-because it takes the polyps 7-10 years to turn into cancer. For example, if a Mom is 42 when she was diagnosed, all of her children, grandchildren and their kids, and their kids on down the line as well as all of her brothers and sisters and all their children and their children on down the line should start having colonoscopies no later than 32. If a person is elderly when they are diagnosed, (about 70 or more) then it is not necessary because you will have already started having them at 50. Once colonoscopies are started in a person with a history of colon cancer and no polyps are found, they should be repeated at least every 5 years to look for new ones an remove polyps that may have grown since the last colonoscopy before they turn into cancer. If polyps are found, then a colonoscopy must be repeated no more than every 3-5 years depending on the type of polyp. Some MD"S are more cautious and perform them more closer. Some very large polyps may be watched very carefully after removal and repeated in a few weeks or months to make sure that all of it has been removed. And some are so large but not cancerous, that they can be removed in several repeated colonoscopies every 3-4 weeks so as not to cause a hole in the colon requiring surgery for repair. Colon cancer is not contagious.
If caught early, colon cancer is very treatable. If it has already spread when first detected, it may be terminal even with surgery and chemo.
Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) does occur very early, as young as elementary school age, is monitored frequently, and is genetic.
So the answer to your question is YES, YES, YES you could develop colon cancer. You should have your first colonoscopy 10 years before the age that your relative was diagnosed. If he was over 70, then you should start in your 40's-no later than 45.
If you are now a candidate for a colonoscopy, don't be scared. Just make sure the Gastroenterologist will put you into a twilight sleep for the procedure. If you have had a problem with chronic pain from migraines, back or neck problems and you have used narcotics for many years, Ask your MD to use Propofol. If he doesn't agree and use a nurse anethetist to administer it, find another doctor. There are many good GI specialists. It is not necessary to be in pain during these procedures.
I assisted with colonoscopies for 10 years, believe me.
Source(s):
Endoscopy nurse
NO.DON'T WORRY,BE HAPPY.
Yes. Google it to find out more.
it's not 'genetic' but there is a higher risk if you have a family member older than you who has something like this that you may/will have problems with that area. My grandmother had colon cancer, my mom has colitis and 2 uncles and an aunt had/have colon cancer and I have irritible bowel syndrome and i'm on a close screening for developing it.
It is not genetic. His diet is lacking certain nutrients that aids in the immune system's natural ability to kill off
cancerous cells.
So far 54 forms of cancer have been reversed with nutrition.
Yes, it has a little to do with genetics. Your DNA doesn't have the genotype to produce cancer cells in your colon but your body is more likely to form cancer cells than someone who doesn't have a family member with any type of cancer.
In other words, you have a higher chance of getting a cancer somewhere in your body. Therefore, you have to be more careful than someone without a family with cancer.
You can decrease chance of getting a cancer by exercising regularly and eating healthy. Eat more vegetables and eat less meat and fat. Avoid getting depressed by eating healthy and exercising. Don't drink alcohol excessively. Also avoid fast/instant foods. And you will have a healthy long life.
Source(s):
I picked these up here and there.
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