Familial Adenomatous Polyposis Health Article

Prognosis

Without colectomy, the prognosis for individuals with FAP is very poor. Patients who have not undergone colectomy develop colorectal cancer at an average age of 39 years. The majority of untreated people die from colorectal cancer by the age of 42 years. For those who do undergo a colectomy, prognosis is variable, depending on development and progression of other tumors. For example, desmoids can also be detrimental to those affected with FAP, accounting for 11–31% of all mortality in these individuals.

PERIODICALS

King, John E., Roger R. Dozois, Noralane M. Lindor, and David A. Ahlquist. "Care of Patients and Their Families With Familal Adenomatous Polyposis." Mayo Clinic Proceedings 75, no. 1 (January 2000): 57–67.

Lynch, Henry T., and Thomas C. Smyrk. "Hereditary Colorectal Cancer." Seminars in Oncology 26, no. 5 (October 1999): 478–484.

Olson, Sharon J., and Kristin Zawacki. "Hereditary Colorectal Cancer." Clinical Genetics 35, no. 3 (September 2000): 671–685.

ORGANIZATIONS

Colon Cancer Alliance. 175 Ninth Ave. New York, NY 10011. (212) 627-7451. <http://ccalliance.org>.

Colorectal Cancer Network. PO Box 182, Kensington, MD 20895-0182. (301) 879-1500. <http://www.colorectalcancer.net>.

Hereditary Colon Cancer Association (HCCA). 3601 N 4th Ave., Suite 201, Sioux Falls, SD 57104. (800) 264-6783. <http://hereditarycc.org>.

WEBSITES

"Familial Adenomatous Polyposis." Gene Clinics. <http://www.geneclinics.org>.

Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. "FAP. Hereditary Colorectal Cancer." <http://www.hopkinscoloncancer.org/subspecialties/heredicolor_cancer/overview.htm>.

National Cancer Institute. "Genetics of Colorectal Cancer (PDQ)." CancerNet. <http://cancernet.nci.nih.gov>.

Mary E. Freivogel, MS