Monday, June 4, 2012

My father had colon cancer


My father had colon cancer?
I was reading that parents who get colon cancer may pass it down to their children in the form of "familial adenomatous polyps" or "FAP" I'm a little concerned I may have this, when I wiped my backside after going to the toilet yesterday I noticed a little blood on the toilet paper. There was no sensation of pain, burning or constipation. If my father had colon cancer later in his life, but his father didn't die from it, do you think it is hereditary and will eventually cause me to get cancer? I don't know of any other guys in my family who have it.
Cancer - 3 Answers
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1 :
Colon cancer can be hereditary and not necessarily due to FAP. The recommendations for those with a first degree relative is to be screened at an early age than those with average risk which is age 50. Speak to your doctor about when you should start screening. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ped/content/ped_2_3x_acs_cancer_detection_guidelines_36.asp http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/basic_info/screening/guidelines.htm
2 :
Go to your doctor and ask for the colorectal cancer screening test kit. If you live in Ontario it is free. About the genetic part of your question. Family History as a Risk Factor for Colorectal Cancer Among the earliest studies of family history of colorectal cancer were those of Utah families that reported a higher number of deaths from colorectal cancer (3.9%) among the first-degree relatives of patients who had died from colorectal cancer, compared with sex-matched and age-matched controls (1.2%).[32] This difference has since been replicated in numerous studies that have consistently found that first-degree relatives of affected cases are themselves at a twofold to threefold increased risk of colorectal cancer. Despite the various study designs (case-control, cohort), sampling frames, sample sizes, methods of data verification, analytic methods, and countries where the studies originated, the magnitude of risk is consistent.[33-38] Population-based studies have shown a familial association for close relatives of colon cancer patients to develop colorectal cancer and other cancers.[39] Using data from a cancer family clinic patient population, the relative and absolute risk of colorectal cancer for different family history categories was estimated (Table 1).[40,41] A systematic review and meta-analysis of familial colorectal cancer risk was reported.[41] Of 24 studies included in the analysis, all but one reported an increased risk of colorectal cancer if there was an affected first-degree relative. The relative risk (RR) for colorectal cancer in the pooled study was 2.25 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.00–2.53) if there was an affected first-degree family member. In 8 of 11 studies, if the index cancer arose in the colon, the risk was slightly higher than if it arose in the rectum. The pooled analysis revealed a RR in relatives of colon and rectal cancer patients of 2.42 (95% CI, 2.20–2.65) and 1.89 (95% CI, 1.62–2.21) respectively. The analysis did not reveal a difference in RR for colon cancer based on location of the tumor (right side vs. left side). The number of affected family members and age at cancer diagnosis correlated with the colorectal cancer risk. In studies reporting more than one first-degree relative with colorectal cancer, the RR was 3.76 (95% CI, 2.56–5.51). The highest RR was observed when the index case was diagnosed in individuals younger than 45 years for family members of index cases diagnosed at ages 45 to 59 years, and for family members of index cases diagnosed at age 60 years or older respectively (RR 3.87, 95% CI, 2.40–6.22 vs. RR 2.25, 95% CI, 1.85–2.72 vs. RR 1.82, 95% CI, 1.47–2.25). In this meta-analysis, the familial risk of colorectal cancer associated with adenoma in a first degree relative was analyzed. The pooled analysis demonstrated an RR for colorectal cancer of 1.99 (95% CI, 1.55–2.55) in individuals who had a first-degree relative with an adenoma.[41] Other studies have reported that age at diagnosis of the adenoma influences the colorectal cancer risk, with younger age at adenoma diagnosis associated with higher RR.[42,43] As with any meta-analysis, there could be potential biases which might affect the results of the analysis, including incomplete and non-random ascertainment of studies included, publication bias, and heterogeneity between studies relative to design, target populations, and control selection. This study is reinforcement that there are significant associations between familial colorectal cancer risk, age at diagnosis of both colorectal cancer and adenomas, and multiplicity of affected family members. Table 1. Estimated Relative and Absolute Risk of Developing Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Enlarge Family History Relative Risk for CRC [41] Absolute Risk of CRC by Age 79a No family history14%a One first-degree relative with colorectal cancer2.3 (95% CI, 2.0–2.5)9%b More than one first-degree relative with colorectal cancer4.3 (95% CI, 3.0–6.1)16%b One affected first-degree relative diagnosed with colorectal cancer before age 45 y3.9 (95% CI, 2.4–6.2)15%b One first-degree relative with colorectal adenoma2.0 (95% CI, 1.6–2.6)8%b CI = confidence interval. Here is a link to more on FAP. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/dispomim.cgi?id=175100
3 :
Get yourself checked. My father had colon cancer. A few years ago my wife was in the hospital ( for colon cancer) and she mentioned to her surgeon that my father had colon cancer. Her surgeon insisted I get a colonoscope. Finally, I relented. The surgeon removed 7 polyps, of which 4 were pre cancerous. My daughter's dr, recommended that she, with a mother and paternal grandfather who had colon cancer,and a father with pre-cancerous polyps, get a colonoscope, and she isn't even 40. Bottom .line, don't screw around with it.






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