colon cancer

[rummi]

If father has colon cancer how much is the risk for his kids getting it.

[paeupb]

My father was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 66.  He is still alive and kicking at age 75.  Summer of 2008 his oncologist suggested his children get tested, even though they weren't 50.  It took me a few months to make the appointment.  Heck, I had no symptoms.  My 40th birthday was in November of 2008 and I told myself, "It's time to grow up and just get the thing over with."  January 27th of 2009 I finally had my first colonoscopy.  They found one polyp.  When they called me that afternoon the gentleman nurse said, "We did you a great service today."  I thought that was very strange, and I will never forget it.  Friday, January 30th, 2009 I received the phone call that I have cancer.

I am the only girl in my family.  My two brothers had their colonoscopies shortly after my diagnosis.  At ages 39 and 33, they are both fine.  Thank God.  I had surgery to remove that section of my colon, and then had six months of chemo.  

February 5th, 2010 I had my six-months-after-chemo CAT scan and it came back clear.  The chemo worked!  It was hell, but it worked.  I just had my port removed last week.  I go for my second-ever colonoscopy on April 30th.  I'd rather get one every month than ever go through chemo again.  

Now I am trying to help my three boys (12, 10 and 7) to stop worrying that they're going to lose their mom.  Watching them go through this was probably the worst part of it all.

Bottom Line:  GET TESTED!  Please, get tested.

[bk3019]

I agree with jdwithhcy. My youngest brother passed away 10 yrs. ago from colon cancer he was only 40 yrs. old. By the time of his diagnosis the cancer had already spread all over his body. I am scheduled for a colonoscopy tomorrow. I am 51. It's better to be safe than sorry!

[jdwithhcv]

I don't believe there is any way of guaging the risk with just that information.  Some colon cancer is of a type that can run in families, but that is not always the case.  Is there any other family member with colon cancer?

I had colon cancer of the inherited type.  My father, grandmother and great-grandfather all had colon cancer.  With a family history like that I should have undergone screening at an earlier age than the average person.

Normally people should begin colonoscopy (the best test for colon cancer) at age 50.  If you have a parent or sibling with colon cancer you should start earlier.  Do you know how old your father was when he received the diagnosis?  You should begin colonoscopy screening when you are 10 years younger than the age at which your father was diagnosed.

Colon cancer is preventable with early screening, and it isvery treatable, especially when it is treated in an early stage.