It's been well documented that two of the risk factors for colon cancer are heredity and a personal history of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). New research suggests that having both of these risk factors together may further increase the risk of developing colon cancer.

     The study, which looked at data from 20,000 IBD patients over the last 60 years was conducted in Sweden by Dr. Johan Askling of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. Askling discovered that patients with IBD and a first-degree relative (sibling or parent) with colon cancer before age 50 have a greater risk of developing colon cancer. This risk could be as much as nine times greater that those IBD patients with no family colon cancer history.

     Identifying IBD patients who have more that one risk factor for colon cancer is an important part of the screening process. Those at the highest risk for colon cancer can be closely observed through regular screening. Colon cancer is most treatable when caught early.