Is colon cancer hereditary?
My grandfather had colon cancer, and now my father is also showing some symptoms. I am concerned about my own risk. Is colon cancer considered hereditary?
5 answers
4 months ago
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Hey, don't stress too much about this! Only about 5% of all colon cancers are actually hereditary. Unless multiple close relatives have had it, you probably have nothing to worry about. Just focus on eating healthy!
6 months ago
Honestly, the only hereditary thing in my family is early hair loss and high drama! Most colon cancers happen randomly, not because of genes. But hey, if you are worried, it's a great excuse to skip the junk food for a bit.
6 months ago
I had the same concern because my aunt had it. When I consulted a doctor, she explained that most cases are lifestyle-related, but if there's a strong direct family history, it's wise to start screening 10 years earlier than the standard age.
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Consult a radiation oncologist
yrs exp
6 months ago
Having thyroid issues has taught me that we must track our family medical history carefully. While colon cancer isn't always hereditary, having it in the family means you should definitely go for regular annual health checkups and inform your doctor about it.
6 months ago
I am quite new to researching this and a bit scared. If my uncle had colon cancer, does that mean my risk is very high too? I would really appreciate if someone could guide me on what tests are usually done first.