Vision
The
vision of MCCI is to decrease colorectal
cancer incidence and mortality in the
state of Minnesota.
Mission
MCCI
is a non-profit, community and professional
resource that provides information regarding
colorectal cancer, personal risk assessment,
and individual screening recommendations,
facilitates research, and maintains a
high risk family registry.
What
If A Relative Has Colorectal Cancer?
Like
diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart
disease, the tendency to develop cancer
of the colon or rectum (colorectal cancer)
can run in families. When a family member
has had colorectal polyps or cancer,
other family members are more likely
to develop colorectal polyps or cancer,
and may develop them at a younger age.
Your family history may hold important
clues about your risk of developing colorectal
cancer. If you or a family member has
had colorectal cancer, you may have questions
such as these:
"My
mother had colorectal cancer .
. . what are my chances of developing
it?"
"I'm
young. Do I really need to think
about colorectal cancer screening
now?"
"I
had colorectal cancer. What does
this mean for my children? When
should they begin screening?"
"Are
there ways that my family and I
can lower our risk of developing
colorectal cancer?"
Prevention
And Early Detection
Colorectal
cancers usually start as benign (not
cancerous) growths called polyps. Polyps
may develop into colorectal cancer if
they are not removed. Removal of the
polyps prevents cancer from forming.
Polyps may not cause symptoms, so people
are likely to be unaware of their presence.
Like polyps, early stage cancers may
not cause symptoms. Yet, if detected
at an early stage, cure is possible for
over 90% of colorectal cancers. Screening
tests save lives by detecting polyps
and early stage cancers before they cause
symptoms. Once detected, they can be
safely removed. Screening tests include:
- Fecal
occult blood testing
- Flexible
sigmoidoscopy
- Colonoscopy
- Double
contrast barium enema
Based
on your medical and family history, your
doctor will help you decide the type
and frequency of screening tests that
are best for you.
Inherited
Cancer Risk
There
are three different signs that an inherited
cancer risk may be present. The first
is family history.
Family
history is among the most important
risk factors for colorectal cancer.
Increased risk due to family history
depends on the following:
- The
number of family members who
have had polyps, colorectal cancer,
or other cancers
- Whether
the family members who had cancer
were close relatives or more
distantly related
- If
the family members who had cancer
were on the same side of the
family
- If
a hereditary cancer syndrome
has been identified in a family
member
For
more information on heredity and
colorectal cancer please contact
the Minnesota Colorectal Cancer Initiative
(MCCI) at 651-312-1557 or 1-888-
94COLON
Colorectal
Cancer Risk in People of Eastern
European (Ashkenazi) Jewish Ancestry
Recent
research has led to the discovery of
a genetic change (mutation) that slightly
elevates the risk for developing colorectal
polyps and cancer in Eastern European
Jews. Overall, approximately 6% of people
with this heritage are thought to carry
this mutation, which can be passed from
one generation to the next. This number
is higher among Jews who have had colorectal
cancer. In families where this mutation
is present, one or more family members
may have had colorectal polyps or cancer.
At
this time, published screening
guidelines do not recommend early
or more frequent screening based
solely on Eastern European Jewish
heritage. However, genetic testing
is available and earlier and more
frequent colorectal screening is
recommended for people found to
carry this genetic mutation. For
additional information, please
refer to the enclosed list of medical
professionals who provide hereditary
cancer risk evaluation at specialty
clinics.
Facts
- The
baseline rate for colorectal
cancer in the Eastern European
Jewish population is 9-15%, approximately
twice the baseline rate in the
general population.
- This
slightly elevated risk is similar
in magnitude to the risk conveyed
by being a non-Jewish person
with a single first degree relative
with colorectal polyps of cancer
diagnosed after age 60.
- The
American Cancer Society (ACS)
guidelines do not include specific
recommendations for either of
these groups.
- Overall,
approximately 6% of Eastern European
Jews carry an APC I1307K gene
mutation, a heritable change
in the DNA
- This
mutation is more likely to be
found in Eastern European Jews
with a personal or family history
of colorectal cancer or polyps.
- The
presence of this mutation conveys
a 20-30% lifetime risk for developing
colorectal polyps or cancer.
- Genetic
testing is available for about
$230.
- The
American Cancer Society guidelines
do not include specific recommendations
for surveillance in gene carriers.
- Gene
carriers may be advised to have
colonoscopy every two years beginning
at age 35 or 10 years before
the youngest case in family,
whichever is earlier.
- Genetic
testing in the Jewish population
to identify carriers of this
gene, coupled with earlier and
more frequent screening in gene
carriers, could lead to the prevention
and/or early detection of 10%
of the cancers that occur in
the Eastern European Jewish population.
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