Colorectal cancer occurs when cells that line the colon often referred to as the large intestine, and the rectum, the lower portion of the colon, become abnormal and grow out of control. Colorectal cancer is one of the most common occurring cancers with more than 130,000 new cases diagnosed and causing more than 46,000 cancer-related deaths each year. Individuals with this condition typically have one or two family members with a history of colon cancer or precancerous polyps.
Affected individuals are usually in their fifties or sixties when diagnosed with colon cancer.
A mutation which causes this condition is believed to occur in 6 percent of the Ashkenazi Jewish population. Patients with FAP develop multiple colon polyps at a young age, have a pronounced family history of colon cancer, and nearly all will develop colon cancer if preventative measures are not taken. Yes, a gene test has been developed to look for this single gene mutation associated with colorectal cancer in the Ashkenazi Jewish population. This test does not rule out mutations for other forms of colorectal cancer. Individuals who have the test need to provide a blood sample which is then analyzed in a laboratory.