Question 1

are there genetic tests available to screen for colon cancer risk?

Accepted Answer

Yes: If you have a strong family history of colon cancer in several 1st degree relatives, you may be a candidate for genetic testing, however if the test is negative it just means you do not have a genetic predisposition to colon cancer. 80% of colon cancers occur in individuals with no family history and hence would have a negative genetic test.

Question 2

are there any genetic tests required (other than kras) for a 30 year old female with stage iii-b colon cancer after surgery and before adjuvant chemo?

Accepted Answer

Not required...: But someone so young with colon cancer should consider genetic testing for either non-polyposis or polyposis syndromes depending on the circumstances. This should be done by a specialist on genetic diseases. K-ras is done on cancer tissue whereas there others are blood tests. K-ras has to do with treatment of the cancer, the other tests can help choose  treatment but mostly affect cancer risk.

Question 3

my mother died of colon cancer (80), but my genoma test indicated i do not have a genetic risk, i had a colonoscopy 7 years ago, negative, i have a tendency to have hemorrhoids, should one episode of pinkish water in the toilet worry me?

Accepted Answer

Colon cancer. : Do the stool test for colon cancer first would be my advice. There are many. Types of colon cancer some run in families others do not.  Discuss with your team.

Question 4

my grandmothers mom had colon cancer in her 70's. my grandmother is still alive and mom has no risks but should we be screened early because of this?

Accepted Answer

No: Screening for colon ca starts at age 50.  If there is positive family history in first degree relatives - parents and siblings, then screening starts at age 40 or 10 yrs younger than the affected family member, which ever comes first. Since grand mothers mom is not considered a first degree relative, no reason to screen early.

Question 5

grandmother died of colon cancer in her 70s. granddaughter has had 3  clean colonoscopies in her 50 s. how often should i be screened?

Accepted Answer

Depends: If your gm is the only family member with colon cancer, then you should begin screening at age 50 and then every 10 years if normal. If 1 or 2 adenomas <1cm = 5 year followup. If 3 adenomas or 1 adenoma >1cm = 3 year interval.

Question 6

when should a man get screened for colon cancer if his grandpa died of it in his 40s?

Accepted Answer

Depends: If neither of your parents had colon caancer or polyps, you are probably not at increased risk based on grandfathers history and can wait til age 50. But if either parent had polyps or cancer consider earlier screening with a colonoscopy. This all assumes your are not having any symptoms now.

Question 7

do colonoscopies screen for colon cancer?

Accepted Answer

Yes.: There is only one test that has been shown to improve  survival and that is checking the stool for blood.  One should have a colonoscopy at age 50.  So it does allow the physician to view the colonic mucosa and see if any abnormality is detected.

Question 8

is colon cancer common in the midtwenties? my grandmother's mom had it so should i be screened early?

Accepted Answer

You might want to,,,: This isn't common in the twenties but if you has a family history, you might want to start screening early as there have been extreme cases of this in one's twenties and many people with polyposis syndromes that are certain to get this and need early screening and in some cases, prophylactic cholectomies, so it might be wise in your case to start screening early.

Question 9

are the people with family history/genetic factors the only ones who have colon cancer in their lower twenties?

Accepted Answer

No: The prevalence of identifiable genetic risk factors much higher among young people who get colon cancer. However, not all such young people have identifiable genetic risk factors. It's likely that many genetic abnormalities leading to cancer have not yet been discovered.

Question 10

how often should you be screened for recurrent colon cancer?

Accepted Answer

Annual visits: Colon cancer survivors should have regular visits as dictated by their doctors. Initially a colonoscopy should be performed at 1 year and then at least every 5 years. Some testing may involve blood or x-ray testing as well.

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Doctor answers about:

Genetic tests screen colon cancer

A member asked:

Are there genetic tests available to screen for colon cancer risk?

A member asked:

Are there any genetic tests required (other than kras) for a 30 year old female with stage iii-b colon cancer after surgery and before adjuvant chemo?

A member asked:

My mother died of colon cancer (80), but my genoma test indicated i do not have a genetic risk, i had a colonoscopy 7 years ago, negative, i have a tendency to have hemorrhoids, should one episode of pinkish water in the toilet worry me?

A member asked:

My grandmothers mom had colon cancer in her 70's. my grandmother is still alive and mom has no risks but should we be screened early because of this?

A member asked:

Grandmother died of colon cancer in her 70s. granddaughter has had 3 clean colonoscopies in her 50 s. how often should i be screened?

A member asked:

When should a man get screened for colon cancer if his grandpa died of it in his 40s?

A member asked:

Do colonoscopies screen for colon cancer?

A member asked:

Is colon cancer common in the midtwenties? my grandmother's mom had it so should i be screened early?

A member asked:

Are the people with family history/genetic factors the only ones who have colon cancer in their lower twenties?

A member asked:

How often should you be screened for recurrent colon cancer?

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