At a glance
This page provides the algorithm for hereditary colorectal (colon) cancer for the My Family Health Portrait (MFHP): Cancer app, available for iOS and Android. This algorithm assesses risk based only on family health history and does not account for other factors that affect risk, such as age, body mass index, eating habits, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol use.
Personal and family health history risk factors for "Increased Risk" result
- You have had colorectal, colon, or rectal cancer.
- You have Lynch syndrome (LS), also known as hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC).
- You have had any polyps.
- You have familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP).
- You have inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease).
- You have had endometrial/uterine cancer.
- A relative (parent, sibling, half-sibling, child, grandparent, aunt, uncle) has Lynch syndrome/HNPCC or FAP.
- A first-degree relative (father, mother, sibling, child) has had colon, colorectal, or rectal cancer.
- A first-degree relative (father, mother, sibling, child) has had polyps.
- Two or more of your second-degree relatives (aunts, uncles, grandchildren, half-siblings) have had colon, colorectal, or rectal cancer.
- One or more of your second-degree relative(s) (aunts, uncles, grandchildren, half-siblings) have had colon, colorectal, or rectal cancer before age 50.
- One or more of your relative(s) (mother, sisters, daughters, aunts, grandmothers, granddaughters, half sisters) have had uterine cancer before the age of 50.
- Two or more of your relatives (mother, sisters, daughters, aunts, grandmothers, granddaughters, half sisters) have had uterine cancer.
- You or one or more relatives have had a LS-related cancer before age 50 (colorectal, endometrial/uterine, gastric, ovarian, pancreatic, kidney, and brain).
- Two or more members of your family have had a LS-related cancer at any age (colorectal, endometrial/uterine, gastric (stomach), ovarian, pancreatic, kidney, and brain).
If any of 1-15 are positive, result is "Increased Risk."
"What to do next" outputs
All outputs include links to Learn more about hereditary colorectal (colon) cancer and Learn about genetic testing and counseling.
If #1 is positive and #2 is negative, output is
Talk with your healthcare provider about
- Your risk and family history of cancer
- Appropriate follow-up care and screening
- If Lynch syndrome screening is appropriate
Share this information with your family members
#2 is positive, output is
Talk with your healthcare provider about
- Your risk and family history of cancer
- Appropriate follow-up care and screening
Share this information with your family members
#1 and #2 are negative and one or more of #3–15 are positive, output is
Talk with your healthcare provider about
- Your risk and family history of cancer
- If Lynch syndrome screening is appropriate
Share this information with your family members
If #1–15 are negative, output is
Discuss appropriate screening options with your healthcare provider
Be sure to update your family history with any new cancer diagnoses