Genomics and Chronic Disease

Colorectal Cancer and Family Health History

Screening for Individuals Without a Family History

Screening for colorectal cancer should start at age 50 for most people.  Several screening tests are recommended.

• Yearly fecal occult blood test (FOT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT)
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
• Double-contrast barium enema every 5 years
• Colonoscopy every 10 years
• Individuals with inflammatory bowel disease, personal history of curative intent resected colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, or adenoma(s) found at colonoscopy should be screened more frequently.(1) 

(1) National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Centers for Disease Control, American Cancer Society, Minnesota Colorectal Consortium. and the United States Preventive Services Task Force

Screening for Individuals With a Family History

• Individuals with:
    1. One first degree relative (brother, sister, parent of child)
    2. Two or more second degree relatives (grandparents, uncles, aunts,nephews, nieces, half-brothers, half-sisters) with a history of colorectal cancer should be screened with colonoscopy at age 40 or 10 years younger than the earliest case of colorectal cancer in the family, whichever is younger.(2)

• If a genetic cancer syndrome that includes colorectal cancer is diagnosed, comprehensive screening recommendations that address all potential aspects of the syndrome should be consulted.

What is a Family Health History?

A record of a person's current and past illnesses, and those of his or her parents, brothers, sisters, children, and other blood relatives. A family health history shows the pattern of certain diseases in a family, and helps to determine risk factors for those and other diseases.(3)

(3) National Cancer Institute