Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer

Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer is another inherited colon cancer syndrome which can increase a person’s chance of cancer.

What is an Inherited Colon Cancer Syndrome?

An inherited colon cancer syndrome is not the same as having colon cancer symptoms or signs. This is a condition in which it’s been shown that a patient has a genetic background which raises their chances of having colon cancer at some point during their lives. In the cased of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, having this condition means that a patient has an 80% greater risk of developing cancer than someone else might have.

Within this condition, also known as Lynch Syndrome, the patient not only has a greater risk of colon cancer, but they also have a greater risk of other cancers. Those who have hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer will often develop colon cancer before the age of 50, which is when most pre-screening recommendations begin.

Can Anyone Stop Genetic Cancers?

The first question you might have upon hearing about hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer is whether you can do anything to prevent colon cancer. The truth is that you will be at a higher risk, but this doesn’t mean you are going to get cancer. With diligent screening, you might be able to put off colon cancer for a long time, or you might be one of the 20% who aren’t at a higher risk of developing cancer.

It never hurts to ensure that your lifestyle is as healthy as possible in order to avoid cancer and to keep your body free of diseases.