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HOME | What to do if a Family member has Colon Cancer
People with close relative(s) having colon cancer are more likely to develop it. The level of risk depends on the number of close relatives with colon cancer and their age at developing cancer.
What should I do?
Compared with those without a family history, you are at a higher risk of having colon cancer which may also develop at an earlier age. Regular colonic check-up (also called screening) is recommended for you. Screening may help to detect and treat pre-cancerous adenoma. Screening has proved to be the most effective strategy to prevent colon cancer. Your doctor or regional registry can advise on the most appropriate screening schedule for you.
For more on screening, also click on Who Should Have a Check-Up
Tell me about Genetic Screening
Hereditary colon cancer accounts for 10% of all colon cancers. Genes causing hereditary colon cancer have been identified. Therefore, genetic screening is now possible to identify affected families. By simple blood test from an affected individual, the nature of genetic changes can be identified. The genetic information can then be used for screening other family members to determine whether they are inherited with the same condition.
For non-hereditary forms of colon cancer, genetic screening is not yet possible.
What is Genetic Counselling
Genetic counselling is a service provided for families affected by hereditary colon cancers. Family members are counselled about their risk of colon cancer based on clinical and genetic information.
If applicable, various aspects on genetic testing are also discussed. This includes : usefulness and limitation of genetic testing; possible alternatives; genetic testing result, implication and plan for subsequent management.
Genetic counselling is usually conducted by a medical or genetic counsellor either from a regional genetic service or a regional hereditary colon cancer registry.
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