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Aurora Medical Center

Family genetics and colorectal cancer

The hand-stitched quilt passed on by your grandmother, the gold pocket watch once carried by your father, the antique dresser from your uncle's home… They are cherished family treasures that will always remind you of your loved ones. But there is something else you might have inherited from your relatives.

Steve Sadowski and his brother, David, are learning how they can minimize their family risk for cancer with the Cancer Genetics Counseling Program.

Steven Sadowski, a 53-year-old Neosho resident, is one of seven brothers and sisters with increased risk of developing colorectal cancer because of family medical history.

“I have two siblings who had colon cancer in their 30s and a grandfather who died at a young age from what was then called ‘stomach cancer,'” says Steve. “I also have a sister who had uterine cancer and a brother with lung cancer.”

During the summer of 2007, Steve had a close call himself when an abnormal growth showed up on a colonoscopy, a screening test for colorectal cancer. Fortunately, the mass was benign (non cancerous), but at the suggestion of his gastroenterologist, Steve decided to participate in the Cancer Genetics Counseling Program, a new service offered at the Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic in Slinger.

Lifesaving information for cancer patients

“I am thrilled for this to be available in Washington County,” says Nimish Vakil, MD, an area gastroenterologist who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer. “Not all cancer is hereditary,” he emphasizes, “but in recent years, medical research has been able to identify a number of genes related to inherited predisposition. Normally this kind of testing is only available in large cities. It can be very valuable in providing lifesaving information for certain individuals and their relatives who may be unaware of the risk they have inherited.

“The average lifetime risk of getting colorectal cancer is six in every 100 people,” he explains. “Most cancers start from pre-cancerous growths called polyps and cancer can be prevented by periodic removal of these polyps as in Steven's case.”

You should be concerned about your family history and discuss it with your family doctor if you have a parent, sibling or child (first-degree relatives) who developed colon cancer at an age younger than 50 years; if two or more of your first-degree relatives had colon cancer regardless of age; or if pre-cancerous polyps were found in a first-degree relative who is younger than 60 years.

“You can't change your family history,” notes Dr. Vakil, “but by knowing your risk, you can take specific steps, such as periodic colonoscopy, to prevent the disease.”

Cancer gene identified

As the result of genetic counseling and testing at the Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic, Steve is now aware that he has “Lynch Syndrome,” which is caused by an inherited gene that markedly increases his chances of developing colorectal cancer and other cancers. Several of his relatives have also tested positively for the gene and are taking action to lower their risk.

“I will have more frequent colonoscopies than most people,” says Steve. “My doctor is keeping a close eye on me and I have a greater awareness of the early warning signs of cancer. I'm eating healthy, watching my weight and exercising. I'm doing everything I can to prevent colon cancer.”

Services of the Cancer Genetics Counseling Program at the Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic include:

• Confidential hereditary cancer risk assessment with a trained genetic counselor
• Access to ongoing local and national cancer research studies
• Patient education
• Genetic testing when appropriate.

Whether or not participants decide to undergo the actual genetic tests, the risk assessment portion of the program can help their doctors devise a personal cancer surveillance program for them.

“It's pretty scary to see your brothers and sisters get cancer and to realize you might be next,” says Steve. “With genetic testing, you may not learn what you want to hear, but on the other hand, there's peace of mind that comes with knowing your risk and to be able to do something about it. We have a big family and a lot can happen. Challenges bring you closer together. As a result of our experiences, we're all more aware of our health and how much we care about each other.”

To better understand your risk of colorectal cancer, talk to other members of your family, then have a discussion with your primary care doctor. Since symptoms of colorectal cancer often aren't obvious, information and prevention are your best weapons.

Genetic counseling for cancer risk assessment is appropriate for anyone with concern or anxiety about personal or family cancer risk, or any of the following on their mother's or father's side of the family:

• Early ages of diagnosis
• More than one family member with the same cancer
• Individuals with bilateral cancers or more than one primary cancer
• Two or more generations of the family affected

See if you might be at risk | Learn more about colorectal cancer

About Dr. Vakil

Dr. Vakil is a nationally-regarded gastroenterologist who specializes in endoscopic procedures such as colonoscopies. He sees patients at the Aurora Health Centers in Slinger and Hartford and performs colonoscopies at the Aurora Medical Center in Hartford. For an appointment in Slinger, call 262-644-2900; in Hartford call 262-670-4000. For more information about the Cancer Genetics Counseling Program, call the Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic at 877-647-2502.