{"id":11034,"date":"2021-03-29T16:00:10","date_gmt":"2021-03-29T16:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/ehealth\/?p=11034"},"modified":"2021-11-17T14:53:43","modified_gmt":"2021-11-17T14:53:43","slug":"does-colorectal-cancer-run-in-your-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/ehealth\/2021\/03\/29\/does-colorectal-cancer-run-in-your-family\/","title":{"rendered":"Does Colorectal Cancer Run in Your Family?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If so, you may want to consider genetic evaluation and testing<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a>Most people develop cancer by chance or due to risk factors that happen over a lifetime. However, some people develop cancer due to a hereditary cancer syndrome.\u00a0 A hereditary cancer syndrome is an inherited increased chance (higher than the general population) to develop certain types of cancer due to a change (mutation) in a gene that normally keeps cells healthy. Inherited conditions are passed from generation to generation and can come from the mother\u2019s or father\u2019s side of the family. Approximately 5 % of people diagnosed with colorectal cancer<\/a> develop their cancers due to a hereditary cancer syndrome.<\/p>\n

The most common hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome, Lynch syndrome<\/a>, is caused by a hereditary mutation in any one of the following genes: MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2<\/em> or EPCAM<\/em>.\u00a0 A person with Lynch syndrome has an increased chance of developing colorectal, uterine, ovarian, stomach, pancreatic, small bowel, bladder\/ureter\/kidney and some other types of cancer. However, there are a number of other genes associated with hereditary colorectal cancer \/ polyps, including but not limited to: APC, ATM, AXIN2, BMPR1A, CHEK2, CDH1, GREM1, NTHL1, POLE, POLD1, PTEN, SMAD4, STK11, TP53<\/em>.\u00a0 This list keeps growing as researchers keep finding more genes to include.<\/p>\n

Genetic evaluation and testing<\/a> is available to help identify families with a hereditary cancer syndrome.\u00a0 Knowing that there is a hereditary cancer syndrome in the family can help healthcare providers make appropriate recommendations for a person\u2019s cancer risk management (increased screening and\/or ways to lower risk) and possibly also a person\u2019s cancer treatment. \u00a0Examples of people who should consider genetic evaluation and testing for hereditary colorectal cancer include but are not limited to:<\/p>\n