Colon Cancer Risk Factor : Genetics

Prevention includes regular checkups, if found early enough “survival rate is 90%”, however only 4 out of 10 people find colonic cancer in this stage due to lack of regular checkups. Prevention also includes consuming the recommended amounts of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and vitamins high in calcium and vitamin D. Risk factors include drinking, smoking, obesity, low activity, and a history of polyps.

The Ministry of Health has contributed almost $40 million dollars, over the past four years, towards the development and implementation of the National Bowel Screening Programme (Ministry of Health [MOH], 2016a). The aim of this is to develop a programme to regularly screen people who are considered a ‘high risk’ for developing colorectal cancer. People considered to be at a high risk for developing colorectal cancer are those of advancing age (60+), previous colonic polyps, a diabetes diagnosis, and those who have a previous family history of colorectal cancer (Brenner, Zwink, Ludwig & Hoffmeister, 2017, p.95; Dallas, 2017; Engelke, 2016).

Colon cancer is a condition in which polyps form in the lining of the colon (large intestine).

What is Mr. Watt’s risk factors related to colon cancer? Consider all aspects of his health, his family history and his culture.

Depending on how far along the polyps have grown there are three treatment options; radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy. The most common of these is surgery. There are several ways to prevent colon cancer. One is having a healthy diet of low fat foods, vegetables, and fruits. Another way to prevent colon cancer is to have a yearly colonoscopy, a test that can tell you what is going on in your lower digestive system, around age 40.

Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC) and LS (also known as hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) combined likely affect 1 in 250 individuals in the general population, therefore, suggests that primary care providers (PCP) actively cares for a number of these individuals and their family members (Metcalf, Tanner, Buchanan, 2010). Failure to identify and manage individuals with HBOC and LS can result in more harm and increase poor cancer prognosis (Metcalf, Tanner, Buchanan, 2010; Rosato et al., 2013). There are a number of guidelines from prominent organizations including the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and Evaluation of Genomic Applications in Practice and Prevention suggesting that identification of HBOC and LS patients can improve outcomes through enhanced screening and preventive measures (Metcalf, Tanner, Buchanan, 2010). Although not recognized as a universal agreement, the best approaches to high risk individuals with HBOC and Lynch syndrome is a primary care setting, until there is universal agreement with improved identification of LS risk measures (Metcalf, Tanner, Buchanan, 2010). Researchers are exploring recommendations to offer genetic testing for LS to all individuals with diagnosed CRC, with the intent of reducing morbidity and mortality in family members (Bellcross et al., 2011). Currently there are no significant efforts on a national level to facilitate widespread genetic screening to prevent LS adult onset conditions in family members of affected individuals using a public health model (Bellcross et al., 2011). The same concepts and processes used in newborn universal screening are being considered as a model for implementing universal LS screening on a population level (Bellcross et al., 2011). In recognizing universal LS

You have a family history of colorectal cancer or other kinds of colon-related issues, like polyps or colitis.

Maori aged 60-69 years were 1.5 times more likely to have an adenoma detected than Europeans of the same age (Ministry of Health, 2015). Maori were almost 1.5 times more likely to have an advanced adenoma detected than Europeans (Ministry of Health, 2015). Asians were over 1.5 times less likely to have an advanced adenoma detected than Europeans (Ministry of Health, 2015). There was a recommendation that Asians were less likely and Maori were more likely than Europeans to have neoplasia detected, but this was not statistically significant (Ministry of Health, 2015). Asians were less likely than Europeans to have either advanced adenoma or colorectal cancer detected (Ministry of Health, 2015). The Positive Predictive Values for adenoma and advanced adenoma was lower for females than males (Ministry of Health, 2015). The PPV for adenoma was about 1.5 times less for Asians

Squamous cell carcinomas cancer is the most common colon cancer in the United States. It is located within the anal canal and around its walls. This sparks my interest because it is quite odd to me that cancer could occur in the anal canal or outside of it. It really shows how cancer can literally occur anywhere in the body. Even Though it is located in the anal canal, the cause of colorectal cancer is usually due to many other reasons that has nothing to do with the colon itself. These causes are the amount of exercise a person have, any smoking or drinking, even if the person is overweight, or attaining HPV. There are also many causes that can not be changed by your lifestyle, for example if you have the genes to have colorectal cancer or

Genetics and other factors that are not in a person's control play a role in whether or not a person develops oral cancer. Factors like age, gender, race/ethnicity and family history are big contributors. Most people who get oral cancer are over the age of 40. Although younger people are increasingly more at risk due to the H.P.V. virus. ("Oral Cancer Facts") Gender can influence the risk of cancer as well. Men have a 1 in 84 chance of developing oral cancer in their lifetime, whereas women have a 1 in 160 chance. ("Facts And Figures") When it comes to race and ethnicity, oral cancer is twice as common in the African-American population than in the caucasian community. Even though genetics can be a factor in determining the risk of cancer, environmental factors are a bigger part of the risk.

Malignant growths in the colon is the third leading cause of cancer in the United States, and is the second leading cause of death from cancer as well, according to research published by the American College of Gastroenterology (http://patients.gi.org/topics/colon-polyps/). By finding and removing colon polyps, the chances of those that can become cancerous doing so is greatly reduced. This is key in reducing the number of colon cancer diagnoses, and saving lives.

This condition is known as the familial adenomatous polyposis which one of the main precursors to the development of colorectal cancer (P, 2013). This condition is inherited and is as a result of a genetic mutation in the gene that codes for the APC protein (a tumour suppressor gene). It starts out as a benign tumour but has the tendency to progress onto a malignant form as in the case of our patient. (Flemming et al., 2012).

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is an autosomal dominant disease caused by mutation in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) suppressor gene on the long arm of chromosome 5 (Kennedy, Potter, Moir, & El-Youssef, 2014). Patients diagnosed with FAP had more than a hundred adenomatous polyps in their large intestine. FAP is dominantly inherited and is close to 100% penetrant (Hegde, Ferber, Mao, Samowitz, & Ganguly, 2014). Therefore, it is essential to have knowledge of the disease in advance in order to have sufficient medical preparation and family planning before the onset of the disease.

The best way to prevent cancer from developing is removing polyps while they are benign or precancerous. Regular screenings are required to find the polyps. Additionally, doctors recommend that all patients 40 and over have their stool tested for blood and have their rectum physically examined on an annual

If you have ever had a family with stomach cancer, you need to be more careful. According to many studies, people who have a family history of cancer have a greater risk of the cancer. It seems that genetic factors remain the greatest determinant of a person's likelihood of