Family History of Colon Cancer provides Better Chances of surviving it

Patients of colon cancer with a family history of the disease, have more chances of surviving it than patients who do not have any family link, suggests a recent research. Also, the more number of relatives with history of colorectal cancer, the better are the prospects of battling it.

The ironic research was published on Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

According to an estimate of the American Cancer Society, 153,000 cases of colon and rectal cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2008, and about 50,000 people will die of it. Previous studies have revealed that about 35 percent of colon cancers are inherited, and about 11 percent of patients have at least two close relatives with the disease.

There is about a 1-in-10 chance of developing colon cancer in people who have a parent or sibling who suffers the disease. On the other hand, in people with no family history, the odds of developing cancer are 1-in-20.

Findings of the new study suggest that as yet unidentified genetic influences are associated with both an increased risk for developing colorectal cancer and an improved prognosis for surviving the disease, said Jennifer A. Chan, an instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, who led the study

"This is reassuring for patients with a family history, but it could also be important for treatment," said Chan. "If we are able to identify the factors associated with family risk and improved prognosis, this could help guide treatment decisions in the future."

The latest study involved 1087 patients of colon cancer. It was conducted by researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and financed by grants from the National Cancer Institute and the Pharmacia & Upjohn Company, now Pfizer Oncology.