PharmD Info

[Naghul adhithya k s]

I am a man with a family history of cancer (my grandfather had colon cancer), is there any chance for me to get colon cancer, if yes, what measures should I take to prevent it.

[M DARSHAN NAIR]

Some people are born with a gene mutation that they inherited from their mother or father. This damaged gene puts them at higher risk for cancer than most people.

Approximately 5 to 10 percent of colon cancer is hereditary. The major hereditary colon cancer syndromes are Lynch syndrome (previously known as Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer or HNPCC) and Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP).

A diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in red meat may help reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. Studies have also shown that people consuming calcium and vitamin D supplements have a lower risk of colorectal cancer compared to others.