Risk of cancer with Crohns

[AussieMaraT]

Hi all

I'm not sure if this is the right subforum to ask, and I haven't really done a lot of research and/or looking on this forum yet but just thought I would ask.

Does anyone know if there is a correlation between Crohns disease and colorectal cancer?

I'm asking because I just found out yesterday that my great-uncle (my maternal grandmothers brother) has been diagnosed with bowel cancer. He had emergency surgery but I am just waiting to hear more details about where is was/ what stage etc etc. My other great-uncle (the two uncles are brothers) has also had bowel cancer about 2 years ago. And my maternal grandmother (their sister) has polyps and has surgery every so often to remove them.

It is making me a bit nervous with all of this history... Besides the above, I am the only other person I know of in my family with any sort of IBD. My father was adopted so I'm not sure of the family health history there.

If anyone has any thoughts or info it would be much appreciated.

 

[DustyKat]

Unfortunately there is an increased risk of colorectal and small bowel cancers with Crohn's disease. The risk only applies to the areas in which you have or have had active disease.

Just my thoughts but I would imagine if you have Crohn's affecting the large bowel and also a family history of colorectal cancer then perhaps your chances would be increased again??? But I may be way off the mark there.

Colorectal Cancers.

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease have a slightly higher risk for colorectal cancer. The risk is greater for patients with severe ulcerative colitis than for those with Crohn's disease. Patients with Crohn's disease do have an increased risk for small bowel cancer. (However, small bowel cancer is a very rare type of cancer.) The risk increases with the severity of the condition and the length of time the patient has had Crohn's. Patients with Crohn� ' s disease should discuss with their doctors how often they should have colonoscopies (screening tests for colorectal cancer). The colonoscopy should include biopsies to test for dysplasia (precancerous changes in cells). [For more information, see In-Depth Report #55: Colon and rectal cancers ]

Source: Crohn's disease - Complications http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/how_serious_crohns_disease_000103_4.htm#ixzz2VKsteyWw
University of Maryland Medical Center
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Dusty. xxx

 

[Catherine]

My husband has been told he at increased risk of bowel cancer as his mother died from bowel cancer. He doesnot have IBD.

 

[AussieMaraT]

Thank you for your quick replies. I guess I will do some more research to freak myself out!! I was kind of thinking it would be possible but I hadn't thought that much about it or done any research but when I found out about Uncle B it kinda panicked me.

 

[lizbeth]

Hi there, I'm sorry this is freaking you out a bit, but I can also completely understand why. I understand that there is an increased risk of cancer but as already mentioned a lot depends on length of time etc with Crohns. It might be worth having a chat with your GI and let them know your concerns especially given your family history, that way that may be able to put your mind at ease and if you get the info from them instead of relying on your own research it'll save you having to do it lol. I really hope you get the answers you need and get some peace of mind, take care. :ghug:

 

[shamrock15]

One thing to keep in mind - you will likely be having fairly regular colonscopies, so the chances of early detection would be quite high. Make sure your doc knows, and you should be well taken care of. Not really worth the worrying.

 

[ron50]

I am still in the undiagnosed group. I have been dxed with ibs most of my life and have on at least 5 occasions been dxed with ulcerative conditions of the gi tract, mainly stomach and duodenum. I have had acute pancreatitis and lost my gallbladder. My brother has been treated for ulcerative colitis and proctitis for over thirty years. At age 48 I was dxed with stage 3c colon cancer (into six lymph nodes) I had surgery and chemo-therapy in 1998 and have been cancer free since then. The down side is that nearly everything I take drug wise has adverse side effects and I am considered to have several varieties of auto-immune disease ranging from kidney disease to severe arthritis and neuropathy. I don't think that the medical profession really considerers the effects of long term pain and illness on patients wellbeing. After fifteen years of utter crap health since ca combined with rarely feeling well before ca I sometimes wonder whether surviving ca was really the best outcome. Ron.

 

[LindaS]

Colon cancer is one of the slower growing cancers. With Crohn's, you'll get more frequent colonoscopies, and start getting them earlier than the recommended age 50 baseline. So even if you develop it, you'll have early detection. With early detection, colon cancer is one of the more treatable and curable forms of cancer.

But having Crohn's and a family history of colon cancer both put you at a higher risk. But it is better to know and be aware and vigilant than to have blinders on.