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One in four cases of colon cancer has a family history. But many don’t even know they are at risk. FOCUS online asked a cancer expert how you can determine your risk.
Colon cancer in relatives doubles your risk
But most people don’t even know that colon cancer runs in the family. There’s only one thing that helps: ask!
“Talking about it is so important because if there is a family history of the disease, your own risk of colon cancer is about twice as high,” explains Korbinian Weigl. He works on German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg.
Familial history means that a relative has had or has colon cancer or a precursor to it. The risk is great if first-degree relatives are affected – for example the father. But second-degree relatives are also important, such as grandparents. If one of them had colon cancer, the risk also increases, but not as much.
This is how you can help colon cancer patients
A diagnosis of colon cancer not only means an emotional blow for those affected, but often also a financial one. The colon cancer patient support organization supports these families. You can donate or apply for help here: www.patientenhilfe-darmkrebs.de
Just two questions are enough
You can only find out about your own family risk by talking to your relatives. So with father, mother, siblings, grandparents. Even though many people don’t like to talk about the intestines and intestinal diseases. Two simple questions are enough:
- Have you ever had colon cancer?
- And if you have never had colon cancer, have you ever had colon polyps removed (especially adenomas)?
Any growth is dangerous
Precancerous lesions in relatives increase your risk of colon cancer. Precursors are growths. They are called intestinal polyps or adenomas. These can develop into colon cancer if they are not removed in a timely manner.
The risk of colon cancer is definitely increased if a close relative has had an adenoma or colon cancer.
Family stress is more than heredity
One in four colon cancer patients has a family history.
These include:
- five percent inherited risks
- 20 percent pre-existing stress, for example due to an unfavorable lifestyle
Belong to the unfavorable lifestyle
- Smoke
- eat red meat
- too much alcohol
- Overweight and
- too little movement
Don’t be afraid of the colonoscopy
If you have a family history, you should definitely talk to your doctor. He will tell you whether you should have a colonoscopy. The doctor can detect and remove growths at an early stage.
The examination takes about 15 minutes and is usually painless because the patient is in twilight sleep. According to Weigl, the risk of side effects is extremely low.
The right time for your first colonoscopy
“If the father got colon cancer at the age of 60, his children should have a colonoscopy at the age of 40 or 45,” advises Korbinian Weigl. How often the examination is carried out again depends on the results of the first examination.
Colon cancer usually forms slowly, with the exception of a few particularly aggressive forms. “Early detection of colon cancer is an incredibly valuable and important method because it prevents colon cancer from developing in the first place,” explained Stephan Hofmeister, deputy chairman of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians, in a press release from February 2026.
Prevention cannot be valued highly enough, emphasized Hofmeister. Because: “Prevention is better than cure.”
If detected early, the chances of survival are high
The great relevance of prevention is also shown by the number of survivors. If colon cancer is discovered early, 90 percent of patients are still alive after five years. This number is the “relative survival rate”. To do this, you compare a group of cancer patients with a group that does not have cancer.
Conclusion: If there is a family history of colon cancer or precancerous lesions, be sure to see a doctor. Even if you are significantly younger than 50 years old. The specialist is called a gastroenterologist.
