colon cancer genetic??

Question

i have some questions that i have wondered about a while...

both my grandmas have had colon cancer... one of which died from it. now im wondering several questions about it...

first of all.. i know colon cancer is genetic.. but what are the chances that i will get it... and how much does that increase if my parents get it sometime later in life...

also i know after a certain age i have to get yearly tests for it because it could run in the family... but what is the average age for getting it??

also... my grandma on my moms side has already beaten the cancer... but what are the chances that it will come back??

lastly... what is a colon??

Answer 1

a colon is another name for the large intestine.. in the large intestine, excess water is reabsorbed by the body, which changes the consistency of our poop.

you have a big chance of acquiring it but it can be intervened through diet. it is one of the few modifiable (means large chances of not acquiring it) cancers. you should eat a lot more food rich in fiber because it helps "sweep" the colon with food residues (food excess that gets in between the folds of the large intestine which causes it to irritate). the exact cause of cancer is unknown but it is somehow identified that constant irritation of an organ causes it to mutate thus developing cancer like constant smoking irritates the alveoli in lungs thus developing lung cancer.

if in case that you WILL acquire it, early detection is very important so that early intervfention can be made. when you reached or if you are already in your forties, monitor your bowel movements. when you feel irregularities in your bowel like change n frequencies or you see blood, GO TO THE DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY! occult blood test is also helpful to detect early presence of abnormalities.

Answer 2

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.

Answer 3

cancer isnt necessarily genetic , some say it is and some say not , i would have to say for anyone ,whether cancer is in the family or not has a 50/50 chance . the thing with cancer is it can strike anyone at anytime. the colon is in the digestive tract

Answer 4

Yes, colon cancer is to a great degree genetic.

Here is a link for you to read:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colon_Cancer