High-risk criteria

SIGNS INDICATING A FAMILIAL HISTORY OF COLORECTAL CANCER RISK

Speak with your doctor if you see on the same side of your family (father or mother’s):

Several family members with CRC*, especially if they are 1st and 2nd-degree relatives;
One or more relatives with CRC before the age of 50;
Several cases of CRC, but also of other cancers** associated with hereditary syndromes of colorectal cancer***;
Several relatives diagnosed for a second time with a CCR, which is not a relapse of the first one but a new cancer (de novo CRC –a new origin);
Close relatives with a mutation/genetic change associated with a hereditary CCR syndrome

^{*CRC - colorectal cancer
** Especially endometrial cancer and/or stomach cancer

****A hereditary cancer syndrome is when an inherited mutation
predisposes the individual to develop more than one type of cancer. Examples of colorectal syndromes include HNPCC, FAP, attenuated FAP or MAP}

If you see any of these criteria in your family history, talk with your doctor and ask for information on the available genetic services or Familial Cancer Services .

You can understand better the process of referral by your doctor to these services aqui .

Clinical criteria that indicate that a genetic study should be done:

First-degree relatives of a CRC patient, who is known to carry a mutation linked to the disease
Individuals with or without colorectal cancer who fill the Amsterdam criteria
Individuals with colorectal cancer who fill the Bethesda criteria/guidelines

Do not forget though:

even if you belong to a family with a history of colorectal cancer, this does not mean that you will develop the disease;
there are several ways to manage an increased risk and prevent the disease