Hereditary colon cancer
Hereditary colon cancerHereditary Colon Cancer
Colon cancer is one of many cancers to plague United States citizens. There are four known types of colon cancer. Fourteen percent of all cancers diagnosed are colon cancer. Colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer. Sporadic cancer accounts for 80 percent of all colon cancers and is considered non-hereditary. The remaining 20 percent of cancer are related to heredity. Familial Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (FAP) and Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colon Cancer (HNPCC) are hereditary colon cancers. There is another hereditary colon cancer, which is rare. This type of cancer only effects individuals are from Ashkenzi Jewish descent.
Hereditary colon cancer is passed from parents to their offspring through the genes. Hereditary colon cancer accounts for 21 percent of all colon cancers. Familial Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (FAP) is very rare and only accounts for one percent of all cases. If a person had FAP, they would develop hundreds or even thousands of colon polyps. These polyps are developed at a very young age, Some people have been known to be as young as 13years of age. Most colon polyps are benign but some become cancerous. Most FAP patients develop cancer by the age of 39. Another form of hereditary cancer is Hereditary Non-Polyposis (HNPCC). HNPCC accounts for five to ten percent of all cases. HNPCC develops also at a young age but not as young as FAP patients. The actual cancer appears in the persons 40's. HNPCC is known as a "fast growing" form of cancer. Along with colon cancer HNPCC patients are also at a much higher risk for other forms of cancer.
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The causative factors of these cancers are not known at this time. Many doctors, scientists, and medical researchers believe individuals who fall into high-risk categories might be more apt to get colon cancer. These categories include high-stress lifestyles, certain diets, and gastrointestinal disorders. Diets included in the high-risk categories are high in fat, low in fiber, and lack fruits and vegetables. Stress plays a key role in the risk of getting cancer. Stress can take the form of work related issues, inability to manage emotional situations, and lack of exercise. Gastrointestinal disorders include chronic constipation, irritable bowel, and polyps.
An individual cannot change their genes. They can however, decrease their chance of getting colon cancer through prevention. There are recognized ways of preventing colon cancer or at least lowering one's chance of contracting the disease. One way is to follow a low fat diet, a diet where no more then 20 percent of the calorie intake are fat, and by eating five to eight servings of fruit and vegetables daily. A diet high in fat primarily contains red meat, whole milk products, oils, nuts, and egg yolks. Eating a diet high in fiber, at least 25 grams per day will help to reduce the chance of colon cancer. A high fiber diet consists of whole grain products and fresh fruits and vegetables, which prevents constipation, a known risk factor. Water is also a key factor in reducing the risk of colon cancer. A high water intake reduces the chance of chronic constipation, which is a risk factor, by increasing peristalsis and flushing out the body's wastes.
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There are no early warning signs of colon cancer. The signs and symptoms of colon cancer are obstruction, intermittent abdominal pain, weight loss, diarrhea, black stools, and occasionally an abdominal mass. These symptoms present themselves only after the cancer has gone into an advanced stage. That is why prevention through yearly testing is so important. Quite often the only way of knowing a person has cancer is through diagnostic testing. These tests include blood work, x-rays, scopes, and biopsies. A scope, such as a colonoscopy, allows the doctor to look directly inside the bowel. During a colonoscopy the doctor takes a narrow, flexible tube and inserts it into the person's colon through the anus. At the end of the tube is a small light and camera, which allow the doctor to take any pictures of suspicious findings. A person who has a colonoscopy needs to be sedated because it can be a painful procedure. During the colonoscopy the doctors look for anything resembling a polyp. It is not uncommon for polyps to be cancerous. If the doctor believes a polyp to be cancerous then a biopsy is performed by removing a sample of the tissue, which is examined under a microscope for cancerous cells.
The main form of treatment for colon cancer is chemotherapy. Antimetabolites are the most commonly used chemotherapy. Antimetabolites inhibit nucleic acid synthesis in the cells. Another form of treatment is radiotherapy , which is used in conjunction with surgery. The goal of surgery is to remove as much of the cancer as possible. The surgeon removes as much of the unhealthy tissue as possible. Radiation breaks down the DNA strands, which kill the cancer cells. The success of the treatment depends on how advanced the cancer is and if the cancer has spread to other organs or tissue.
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Twenty years ago people who were diagnosed with cancer died even when it was discovered in the early stages. Today, more and more people are living longer with colon cancer. Many times the treatment put the cancer in remission, allowing the person to live a long and happy life. Maybe one day, a cure for colon cancer will be discovered. Until that time, people who are at risk of getting cancer will need to follow the recommended methods of prevention and get regular check-ups from their doctor.
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Bibliography
Chappell, Louise. BIO - 2B11 Computer Methods in the Natural Sciences. December, 1997. http://www.uea.ac.uk/menu/acad_depts/bio/LINK1_SY.HTM
Memorial Sloan - Kettering Cancer Center Home Page. http://www.mskcc.org/document/wiccrher.htm.
National Cancer Institute. Medicine Online. http://www.med.com/pdq/colon_pro.html
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Heredity Colon Cancer Newsletter.
http://www.mdacc.tmc.edu/~hcc/What.html