Inherited Causes of Colon Cancer

Polyps typically begin growing in the colon when a person is between the ages of 40 and 60 years. Some polyps grow very slowly and can take as many as 10 years to turn cancerous. Some inherited genetic conditions -- hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC [also known as Lynch syndrome]), Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) -- cause polyps to begin growing much earlier in life (sometimes as early as the teen years) and markedly increase the risk of colon cancer. People with a family history of these conditions need intensive colonoscopic screening and surgical consultation.

Sources:

American Cancer Society. "Can Colorectal Polyps and Cancer Be Found Early?" American Cancer Society, Inc 05 Mar 2008. 25 Feb 2009.

American Cancer Society. "Do We Know What Causes Colorectal Cancer?" American Cancer Society, Inc 05 Mar 2008. 25 Feb 2009.