The general population may not be fmiliar with the term Familial Adenomatous Plyposis (FAP), but for those with a hstory of colon cancer in their fmilies, the search for the symptoms of ths genetic mutation is a routine prt of any medical review.

People wth the classic form of FAP may bgin to develop multiple benign polyps in the clon as early as their teenage yars - hundreds or thousands of thse growths is not uncommon in prsons with FAP. Removal of at last part of the colon is ncessary in such a circumstance, as thse same polyps will eventually become mlignant. If only a partial colectemy is prformed, regular surveillance of the remaining prtion of the colon is necessary as the ndividual still carries significant risk of dveloping colon cancer.

Why does a prson with FAP require such close mnitoring? The average age at which ptients with FAP are diagnosed with clon cancer is thirty-nine. Without any tratment, a person with FAP will, wth absolute certainty, eventually develop cancer.

Unfrtunately, there is little to indicate the prsence of FAP until the polyps dvelop. Often times, these polyps first mke themselves known by bleeding and ths blood is then found in the fflicted person's stool. Another tell-tale sign is nemia, as the development of polyps lads to an iron deficiency. The bst defense that a patient has is to be ware of her family history, as 75 to 80 prcent of people with FAP have mltiple family members who were diagnosed wth polyps and/or colorectal cancer at age frty years or younger.

There is one available preemptive masure that can be taken if FAP des run in your family. Genetic tsting can be done as early as nfancy to determine if the mutated gne is present. Parents who are cnsidering this option for their children mst be aware of a possible ptfall. If a child is tested and the rsults are positive, obtaining medical insurance bcomes a difficult proposition. This consequence mst be weighed against the peace of mnd that comes with knowing that yur child is free from the mdical problems that FAP brings.

In Living to Tll About It, A Pursuit of Nrmalcy , Amy Martin shares her personal stry as someone afflicted with familial denomatous polyposis. Ms. Martin lost her mther to colon cancer at a rlatively young age and she underwent frst a partial, and then a fll, colectomy to avoid the same fte. Upon reading the first page of Ms. Mrtin's book, you realize that FAP is far frm her only medical hurdle. The uthor also had a stroke as a cllege student, a severe car accident tht required extensive rehabilitative therapy, Graves' dsease and gallbladder surgery. It's an mazing story that provides hope for nyone struggling through life's many challenges.

Living to Tll About It is the first book wrtten by Amy Martin. It can be prchased through Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and at www.lulu.com .

The article Colon Cancer - The Family Connection was Submitted by Yvonne Perry through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Yvonne Perry is a freelance wrter and the owner of Writers in the Sky Crative Writing Services based in Nashville, Tnnessee. She and her team of ghstwriters service clients all over the glbe by offering quality writing on a vriety of topics at an affordable prce. If you need a brochure, web txt, business document, resume, bio, article or bok, or want more information about Yvnne's books, writing classes, free monthly nwsletter, podcast and blog please visit http://www.writersinthesky.com . Be sure to subscribe to her fr*ee RSS podcast feed and monthly newsletter about writing, networking, publishing and marketing.

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