Definition:
Sporadic colon cancer occurs in people who have no (or very little) family history of the disease. Although colon cancer sometimes has a familial or hereditary component, it usually doesn't.
The majority of colon cancer, about 75%, is sporadic. It occurs in people whose family history provides no heads-up that it's coming. That's one reason why proper colon cancer screening is so important.
Related Articles: Sources:
Sporadic colon cancer occurs in people who have no (or very little) family history of the disease. Although colon cancer sometimes has a familial or hereditary component, it usually doesn't.
The majority of colon cancer, about 75%, is sporadic. It occurs in people whose family history provides no heads-up that it's coming. That's one reason why proper colon cancer screening is so important.
Related Articles: Sources:
- Colon Cancer: How is Colon Cancer Inherited? Genetic Health. 4 Aug. 2000. 23 Jun. 2006 [http://www.genetichealth.com/CRC_Colon_Cancer_Does_Colon_Cancer_Run_in_Families.shtml].
- Colon Cancer: What Causes Colon Cancer? eHealthMD. Oct. 2004. 23 Jun. 2006 [http://www.ehealthmd.com/library/colon-cancer/Colon-Cancer_causes.html].
- Colorectal Cancer Prevention and Treatment. National Foundation for Cancer Research. 23 Jun. 2006 [http://www2.nfcr.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cancers_colorectal].
- Detailed Guide: Colon and Rectum Cancer: What Are the Risk Factors for Colorectal Cancer? American Cancer Society. 7 Mar. 2006. 23 Jun. 2006 [http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_2X_What_are_the_risk_factors_for_colon_and_rectum_cancer.asp].
- Overview: Colon and Rectum Cancer: What Causes Colorectal Cancer? American Cancer Society. 15 Mar. 2006. 23 Jun. 2006 [http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_2_2X_What_causes_colorectal_cancer.asp?sitearea=].
