The American Cancer Society states that colon cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in United States. While there is no single cause of colon cancer, a familial and personal history of breast cancer is seen as a risk factor.
Stastics
According to MDAnderson.org, one in 19 Americans will be diagnosed with colon cancer in their lifetime, with an overall risk of 5.4 percent. Unlike other forms of cancer, it affects men and women equally.
Colon Cancer and Breast Cancer
According to the National Institutes of Health, a personal history of breast cancer commands higher colon cancer risks. Also, certain genetic conditions such as Peutz-Jeghers syndrome are related to colon and breast cancer risks.
Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome
This is a hereditary genetic syndrome that causes mutation in a gene on chromosome 19, also known as STK11, which is known as a tumor suppressor gene. This condition is also responsible for the formation of harmful BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which can be inherited.
Explanation
Inheriting the harmful BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes increases the risk of developing breast cancer at an early age before menopause. Women with harmful BRCA1 mutations were found to have an increased risk of also developing other types of cancer, including colon cancer.
Caution
The Cancer Prevention Coalition and Food and Water Watch have warned the public about milk from cows injected with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH). It increases the insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) in milk, which is a risk factor for breast and colon cancer.
Prevention
The best way to determine the risks of colon cancer associated with breast cancer is through genetic tests for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in a blood protein analysis.
Tags: colon cancer, breast cancer, BRCA1 BRCA2, harmful BRCA1, BRCA1 BRCA2 genes, BRCA2 genes, Breast Cancer
