Colorectal cancer affecting younger people; genetic screening could help identify them earlier! Hereditary Cancer
2 min read
Colorectal cancer is a disease mostly associated with older age; after all, the standard advice has been to start getting tested through a colonoscopy at age 50. But there is an increasing incidence of this cancer in younger people —it went up 51% among people under 55 between 1994 and 2014. That’s why the American Cancer Society lowered the age when it recommends colorectal cancer screening from 50 to 45. That screening could be a colonoscopy or it could be a less invasive stool test (Fecal immunochemical test, FIT). Genetic screening for inherited risk of colorectal cancer would also help identify at-risk people earlier, and this is a type of cancer that has high rates of success when treated early. Genetic testing may be appropriate if you have multiple family members with certain gastrointestinal cancers or cancer syndromes. The concern is greatest if you have close relatives such as parents or siblings with these diseases, but it can also be a worry if you have three or more distant relative who had it on
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the same side of the family.
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Genetic tests can identify if you have a high risk of colorectal cancer because of Lynch syndrome or familiar adenomatous polyposis (FAP). The risk of cancer depends on which type of genetic mutation is has been inherited. If the test is positive, you can get colorectal cancer screening more often. If it is negative you can get screened with the same frequency as people of average risk. The increased frequency as well earlier age of screening in those who test positive can help to diagnose at an earlier age and have better prognosis. Cancer patients can beneďŹ t by being vigilant for other related cancers as well as helping in identifying at risk family members at an earlier stage. GenomeSmart can help you learn whether it might be helpful for you to take a genetic test for inherited colorectal cancer risk.
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