When it comes to cancer related deaths in Central Florida, colon cancer comes in second for both men and women. In fact, it has become so prevalent that the experts have updated their guidelines for screening colon cancer.
For those with an average risk of colon cancer, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPST), recommends to start having a routine screening at age 45.
But what about those with a family history and other risk factors?
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the following guidelines for those with a family history of colon cancer:
Colonoscopy starting at age 40, or 10 years before the age that the immediate family member was diagnosed with cancer.
More frequent screenings
Colonoscopy only instead of there test
In some cases, genetic counseling
The CDC suggest what information to collect when it comes to family health history
Include your parents, sisters, brothers, children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews
Make sure to document both your mother’s side of the family and your father’s side of the family
Document which relatives have had cancer, the type(s) of cancer they have had, and the ages at which they were diagnosed
Report any history of polyps that each relative has had
List the age and cause of death for relatives who have died
Share your family health history with your doctor
Update your family health history regularly and alert your doctor to any new diagnosis
Hereditary colon cancer: common causes
Some people are at a greater risk for developing colon cancer because they carry a gene mutation.
Lynch Syndrome
Lynch syndrome is the most common type of hereditary colon cancer. It is also known as, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). ‘Nonpolyposis” refers to colon cancer that occurs with no polyps at all or only a few polyps.
If the gene mutation for Lynch syndrome runs in your family and you test positive for the mutation, your doctor will probably recommend colonoscopy screening at an earlier age or 5 years earlier than the youngest person in your family was diagnosed.
Classic Familial Abenomatous Polyposis (Classic FAP)
Those afflicted with Classic FAP, can have hundreds of adenomas or precursor lesions grow in the colon. They become problematic as a person ages, as the size of number of polyps increases.
Typically, Classic FAP develops in a person’s mid teens and develop many polyps in the colon by age 35. The longer this condition goes undetected or treated, the odds of developing colon cancer dramatically increases.
The American Cancer Society recommends those “who test positive for the gene change linked to FAP should start being screened with colonoscopy at 10 to 15 years of age. Many doctors recommend that people with FAP have their colon removed when they’re in their 20s to prevent cancer from developing.”
Orlando Colon Cancer Screening
If you have a family history of colon cancer or nearing the age for regular screening, contact Gastroenterology Consultants of Central Florida for an appointment.
We are committed to providing our patients with leading edge and compassionate care. Our doctors specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions that affect the gastrointestinal system