Key points
- If someone in your family has had colorectal (colon) cancer, you may have a higher chance of getting it too.
- Share your family health history of cancer with your doctor.
Overview
Each year, nearly 148,000 people in the United States get colorectal (colon) cancer. Most of these cancers happen by chance. But some are hereditary—meaning that they are caused by genetic changes (called mutations) that are passed down in families.
If you are at risk for hereditary colorectal cancer, you can take steps to lower your risk. To find out if you are at risk, collect your family history of cancer and share it with your doctor. Tell your doctor about any cancer that runs in your family. If your family health history shows that you could be at higher risk for cancer, your doctor may refer you for genetic counseling and genetic testing.
