After researchers discovered another colon cancer gene, the second so
far, they concluded that they have found the causes of over 90 percent
of the disease in its inherited form.
Every year 156,000 people are diagnosed with colon cancer and six of
those cases are caused by those two genes together. In the same time,
around 30 percent of non inherited cases are caused by these two genes
of colon cancer.
It is expected that in the near future researchers will come out with
some new tests to identify the presence of these genes in an individual
and if either one of these is found, doctors can do tumor checks more
frequently permitting them to discover them earlier while they can
still be surgically removed. With this new knowledge it is assumed that
over 90 percent of all that cases caused by inherited colon cancer can
be evoited.
Researchers are confident that this new discovery will lead to new
anticancer drugs in a very short time period, a period of two to five
years.
The genes are found on different chromosomes, but both of them act
almost in the same way, being just like a guardian checking every new
piece of synthesized DNA to make sure that no mutations appeared. But,
if one of these genes is corrupted the new synthesized DNA pieces will
be altered really bad and you will develop cancer as a result. Usually
inherited cancer appears at the age of 50.
Thanks to these new discoveries new screening tests will be available
for the general population. Most specialists agree that this is a huge
step for the medical science resulting in the saving of countless lives
and a great cost reduction in the medical system.
One of these genes is present in about 1 every 200 people all around
the world making it the number one genetic defect. Screening will save
a huge amount of lives but researchers already raise economic concerns
regarding the medical health care; it may be possible that future
agencies will deny the right to a health insurance just on the reason
that a client presents a higher risk because he has one of these genes.
