Inherited Genetic Disorders in Colon Cancer: Lynch Syndrome

Although most colon cancer affects people with no family history or genetic predisposition to it, a small amount of people do suffer from hereditary colon cancer. The most common of these is called Lynch Syndrome, or Hereditary (Non-Polyposis) Colon Cancer. Lynch Syndrome can be passed down from either parent, and if you have it, you have an 80 percent chance of developing colon cancer in your lifetime. These are some of the factors doctors look out for:

1. Three relatives that have colon cancer
2. Two consecutive generations with colon cancer (for instance, your mother and your grandmother on your mother’s side)
3. One of these relatives diagnosed before age 50.

If this sounds like your family, genetic testing will be the next step. If you test positive, you’ll need to undergo earlier screening for colon cancer, starting at age 25.  If you do develop colon cancer with Lynch Syndrome, then your treatment will be tailored to prevent additional cancers from developing.

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