Key points
- Having a family health history of colorectal cancer makes you more likely to get colorectal (colon) cancer yourself.
- Share your family health history of colorectal (colon) cancer with your healthcare provider and family members.
- You can take steps to prevent colorectal cancer or find it early.
Overview
Having a family health history of colorectal cancer makes you more likely to get colorectal (colon) cancer yourself. Knowing your family health history of colorectal cancer and sharing this information with your healthcare provider can help you take steps to lower your risk.
If you have multiple relatives who have been diagnosed with colorectal cancer or relatives who have been diagnosed at a young age (before age 50), your healthcare provider may change your medical management to prevent colorectal cancer or catch it as early as possible. If you have been diagnosed with colorectal cancer, it is important to tell your family members.
People at increased risk
Based on current recommendations, most people start colorectal cancer screening at age 45, but if you have a family history your healthcare provider may recommend the following:
- Colonoscopy starting at age 40, or 10 years before the age that the immediate family member was diagnosed with cancer,
- More frequent screening,
- Colonoscopy only instead of other tests, and
- In some cases, genetic counseling.
What are polyps?
When collecting your family health history
- Include your parents, sisters, brothers, children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews.
- Make sure to document both your mother's side of the family and your father's side of the family.
- Document which relatives have had cancer, the type(s) of cancer they have had, and the ages at which they were diagnosed.
- Report any history of polyps that each relative has had.
- List the age and cause of death for relatives who have died.
- Share your family health history with your healthcare provider.
- Update your family health history regularly, and alert your healthcare provider to any new diagnosis.
If you are concerned about your personal or family health history of colorectal cancer, talk to your healthcare provider. If you need help getting started, visit My Family Health Portrait.
Resources
CDC's mobile app My Family Health Portrait: Cancer Edition (MFHP Cancer) helps you collect your family's history of cancer and can help you understand your risk for colorectal cancer. Android users can download the app from Google Play, and iOS users can download the app from the App Store.