What Role Do Genetics Play in Colon Cancer?

What Role Do Genetics Play in Colon Cancer? (0:50)

Family history is a major risk factor in developing colony cancer. In this video, Daniel Labow, MD, an oncology surgeon at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, discusses the role genetics play in detecting and treating colon cancer.

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Genetics are very important in many cancers, specifically colon cancer as well. First on a level if you're born with an inherited genetic disorder it's important to know what your family history and your genetic risk is because you could be screened earlier and should be screened earlier and followed much closer to prevent cancer from developing.

In addition, the genetics or the actual component of the malignancy, when you have it can help target therapies to appropriate treatments based on a genetic profile or makeup of each specific cancer..