Recurrence of Colon Cancer

If you or one of your family members have battled colon cancer then you know first hand how horrifying the possibility of recurrence can be. Unfortunately, there seems to be about a 20% recurrence rate associated with this particular strain of cancer. Usually, the recurrence takes place within the first five years. The good news is there are new tests that can help determine your risk factor.

Brief Definition of Colon Cancer

Colon cancer is a disease that is found in the lower digestive area. This cancer attaches to the walls of the colon and causes growths, otherwise referred to as tumors. Sometimes this type of cancer can progress and spread to your rectum or other organs like the liver and lungs. The colon works by storing water and bacteria that assist in the digestion of food, thereby breaking down fecal matter, and preventing harmful bacteria while also keeping a proper PH.

Genetic Testing

Now researchers can predict the possibility of a colon cancer recurrence by new genetic testing. The test works by scanning the patient’s genes while in the early stages of colon cancer. The doctors can tell from the result what the percentage might be for a recurrence possibility in the patient. Studies have shown that there is anywhere from a 4% to 55% chance of recurrence and much of it is due to genetics.

Using the Test for Treatment Options

The test is a paramount tool in helping physicians choose a proper method of treatment. Depending on the recurrence possibilities in a patient, a doctor can choose a combination of different treatments. Perhaps the doctor will choose only surgery as a treatment. A doctor may choose to add chemotherapy and radiation, making the treatment a bit more aggressive after surgery has been performed. By broadening our knowledge through modern testing, many illnesses can be treated successfully.

Commercial Launching of the Test

Scientists at Genomic Health are hopeful that this test will be commercially available by the year 2010. The more information a doctor has, the better the treatment will be. By using this test many doors can be opened and people will have a clearer understanding of what options are available to them. New medical advances are being made everyday in the battle against cancer. Soon researchers hope that colon cancer will become nothing more than a chronic illness that must be managed with treatment.

If you are a colon cancer survivor, or if you have been recently diagnosed with colon cancer, you may want to ask your doctor about this genetic testing to find out whether it is available to you. Your genetics may play a bigger role than you think when it comes to illness and your family history. It is now clear that a person’s family history can determine whether or not they will develop cancer. However, genetics can also help to predict what their chances are for survival, and what the odds are that the cancer will come back at some point in the future.