genetics

shmurciakova
shmurciakova Member Posts: 906 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Check this out! Fascinating. I wonder if I have this gene??

http://www.fightcolorectalcancer.org/news/2008/01/colon_cancer_gene_traced_a_sin.php

Sorry, I don't know how to add a hyperlink to this site, so you'll have to cut and paste.

-Susan

Comments

  • kmygil
    kmygil Member Posts: 876 Member
    #2
    Hi Susan,
    This is really fascinating. After my diagnosis and listing the family history, I was tested and found to be carrying a gene mutation which causes HNPCC (hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer). This mutation does not cause a proliferation of polyps; on the contrary, cancer seems to arise in the absence of polyps. At diagnosis I had no polyps at all. Subsequently, my 2 sisters have been tested and they, too, are carrying the gene. Since it is a 50/50 chance that it will be inherited, I thought at least one of us would escape, but unfortunately we are 3 for 3. If you have a proliferation of colon cancer in your family, it might be well worth being tested for the sake of children and relatives. My niece is now aware that she needs to be tested by 25 years old so she can start having colonoscopies every other year from then on. Testing is expensive, but with my onc's recommendation, my insurance company covered it.
    Kirsten
  • shmurciakova
    shmurciakova Member Posts: 906 Member
    #3
    kmygil said:

    Hi Susan,
    This is really fascinating. After my diagnosis and listing the family history, I was tested and found to be carrying a gene mutation which causes HNPCC (hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer). This mutation does not cause a proliferation of polyps; on the contrary, cancer seems to arise in the absence of polyps. At diagnosis I had no polyps at all. Subsequently, my 2 sisters have been tested and they, too, are carrying the gene. Since it is a 50/50 chance that it will be inherited, I thought at least one of us would escape, but unfortunately we are 3 for 3. If you have a proliferation of colon cancer in your family, it might be well worth being tested for the sake of children and relatives. My niece is now aware that she needs to be tested by 25 years old so she can start having colonoscopies every other year from then on. Testing is expensive, but with my onc's recommendation, my insurance company covered it.
    Kirsten

    Hi Kirsten,
    There is not a proliferation of colon cancer in my family, however, both of my parents have had adenomas (polyps) removed. They never developed cancer at a young age and neither have my aunts or uncles. That is why I wondered about this new gene that has been discovered. I was diagnosed at 31. I only had one polyp. It is interesting to know that HNPCC can develop without ANY polyps. I didn't even know that was possible!
    -Susan
  • kmygil
    kmygil Member Posts: 876 Member
    #4
    shmurciakova said:

    Hi Kirsten,
    There is not a proliferation of colon cancer in my family, however, both of my parents have had adenomas (polyps) removed. They never developed cancer at a young age and neither have my aunts or uncles. That is why I wondered about this new gene that has been discovered. I was diagnosed at 31. I only had one polyp. It is interesting to know that HNPCC can develop without ANY polyps. I didn't even know that was possible!
    -Susan

    Hi Susan,
    Yep, the two types of genetic colon cancers are FAP and HNPCC. The FAP is the one that causes the proliferation of polyps and subsequent cancer, and the HNPCC can arise from the mucosa without polyps. Kinda makes me want to go back in time and administer birth control on my ancestors....:)
  • shmurciakova
    shmurciakova Member Posts: 906 Member
    #5
    kmygil said:

    Hi Susan,
    Yep, the two types of genetic colon cancers are FAP and HNPCC. The FAP is the one that causes the proliferation of polyps and subsequent cancer, and the HNPCC can arise from the mucosa without polyps. Kinda makes me want to go back in time and administer birth control on my ancestors....:)

    This gene is something new. Check it out. This one also does not cause a "proliferation" of polyps, just a few apparently...
    Which is what makes me wonder because if I don't have HNPCC then why the heck did I come down with colon cancer (unless it is purely environmental).
    Sigh,
    Susan H.
  • Moesimo
    Moesimo Member Posts: 1,072 Member
    #6
    shmurciakova said:

    This gene is something new. Check it out. This one also does not cause a "proliferation" of polyps, just a few apparently...
    Which is what makes me wonder because if I don't have HNPCC then why the heck did I come down with colon cancer (unless it is purely environmental).
    Sigh,
    Susan H.

    I had the genetic testing done to spare my children this terrible disease. I was told I do not have the gene --thank God, but that there was a fluke in my DNA that caused it. I did have a history of ulcerative proctitis in the same area that the cancer developed.

    Maureen

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