Is there a connection between stomach cancer and colorectal cancer?
There is no association between stomach (gastric) cancer and colorectal cancer, except in individuals with the hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer. This is a rare genetic syndrome in which affected individuals are at risk of colorectal cancer at a young age, as well as other cancers, including gastric cancer. Individuals with a strong family history ( three or more affected relatives spanning two generations with at least one affected relative under age 50) of colorectal cancer, or colorectal cancer and endometrial (uterus) cancer, may have this syndrome and may warrant genetic testing and/or screening with colonoscopy. Patients with familial polyposis also have an increased risk of gastric cancer. It should be kept in mind that many individuals may claim a personal or family history of “stomach cancer” when they mean colorectal cancer.
There is no association between stomach (gastric) cancer and colorectal cancer, except in individuals with the hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer. This is a rare genetic syndrome in which affected individuals are at risk of colorectal cancer at a young age, as well as other cancers, including gastric cancer. Individuals with a strong family history (three or more affected relatives spanning two generations with at least one affected relative under age 50) of colorectal cancer, or colorectal cancer and endometrial (uterus) cancer, may have this syndrome and may warrant genetic testing and/or screening with colonoscopy. Patients with familial polyposis also have an increased risk of gastric cancer. It should be kept in mind that many individuals may claim a personal or family history of “stomach cancer” when they mean colorectal cancer.
There is no association between stomach (gastric) cancer and colon cancer, except in individuals with Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC). This is a rare genetic syndrome in which affected individuals are at risk of colorectal cancer, as well as other cancers including gastric cancer, at a young age. Individuals with a strong family history of colorectal cancer, or colon cancer and endometrial (uterus) cancer, may have this syndrome and may warrant genetic testing and/or screening with colonoscopy. Family history is defined as three or more affected relatives spanning two generations with at least one affected relative under age 50. Patients with familial polyposis also have an increased risk of gastric cancer. A personal or family history of stomach cancer should not be confused with colorectal cancer.
