is bowel cancer heraditory?


Question:
my dad died ofbowe cancer will this happen to me

Answers:
Sadly, yes, it can be. The most common hereditary form is HNPCC, or Lynch syndrome in which a genetic defect is passed from parent to child. It is a dominant autosomal gene, which means only one gene is needed for it to occur, the laymans explaination as a ratio is that each child will have a 50/50 chance of inheriting it. That's the bad news, now for the good.

Bowel cancer is considered to be curable when caught early enough, and the way to detect it early is regular colonoscopies from the mid-twenties onwards. Any changes in the lining of the bowel can be detected early and are often found while at the pre-cancerous stage while they can be easily dealt with before it goes nasty.

Basically, you do probably have a higher risk of POTENTIALLY developing bowel cancer, but that doesn't mean you are going to die from it, detection is the key.

Speak to your doctor and ask about whether you are a candidate for genetic counselling, and insist on routine screening as soon as you reach your mid-twenties.
Unfortunately yes it is hereditary, as with most cancers. But there is still a high chance it has not been passed on. You should go to your Dr. and they will organise to get a regular check which will prevent the cancer.


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