Hereditary Colorectal Cancer Fact Sheet Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States. Approximately 1 in 17 Americans will develop colorectal cancer in their lifetime. These hereditary colorectal cancers often feature colonic polyps or growths that eventually become cancerous.
Genetic counseling is recommended for high-risk families considering genetic testing.
Counseling includes a review of the risks, benefits, and limitations of genetic testing as well as a personalized assessment of the probability of being a mutation carrier. Others in the family can be tested to see if they have that mutation. Risks for insurance and employment discrimination must be considered before undergoing genetic testing. A positive test result indicates that an individual has inherited a gene alteration and has an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. However, a positive result only provides risk information and cannot tell a person whether or when cancer might develop.