Colorectal polyps ‘raise cancer risk for close family’
The risk is similar to having first degree relatives with colorectal cancer and suggests a need for early screening, the researchers say
People who have a parent or sibling with a history of colorectal polyps are at increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), particularly early onset disease, a large registry study suggests.
The findings back screening of these patients before the age of 50 when two or more first-degree relatives have had polyps or when one close relative has had a polyp diagnosed before age 60, the authors say.
In their study, Swedish registry data for more than 68,000 people with CRC were compared with those for nearly 334,000 controls — matched by age, sex and geographical location — who did not have the condition.
Having a parent or sibling with a colorectal polyp raised the risk of developing colorectal cancer by 40%, the researchers reported in the BMJ.
