6.+Hereditary+Colon+Cancer

Hereditary colon cancer. (2009, March). Retrieved August 18, 2009, from Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Web site: []

Introduction-


 * “Cancer of the colon or rectum, colorectal cancer, is the third most common type of cancer in the United States, with nearly 150,000 diagnoses every year. About 1 in 18 individuals in this country will develop colorectal cancer sometime during his or her lifetime.”**

Hereditary-


 * “Most cases of colorectal cancer are not hereditary. However, an estimated 5% of colon cancer cases are due to inherited alterations in single cancer susceptibility genes. An alteration of this type can be passed from generation to generation and increase the risk of developing colon and other cancers.”

“The most common hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes are called Hereditary Non-polyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC) and Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP).”

“Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer, also known as Lynch syndrome, is a hereditary condition characterized by an increased risk of colorectal, uterine, and other cancers, which can develop at earlier ages than one would expect in the general population. In addition to colon and uterine cancer, individuals with HNPCC are at an increased risk for cancer of the ovary, stomach, urinary tract, small bowel, and bile duct. HNPCC accounts for approximately 2%-4% of all colon cancers.”

“Familial adenomatous polyposis is an inherited condition characterized by the development of hundreds to thousands of polyps in the colon and rectum at a young age, usually in the teens to 20s. A subtype of FAP (called Attenuated FAP) is characterized by fewer polyps and later age of onset. The major risk of FAP is development of colorectal cancer if not recognized and managed appropriately.”**