Cancer Center

The Genetics of Colorectal Cancer

Approximately 25 percent of individuals with colorectal cancer have at least one relative with colorectal cancer, while 75 percent of cases are persons without a family history of the disease. Approximately 5 percent to 6 percent of colorectal cancers are due to known predisposing genetic factors. This means that the majority of colorectal cancers are, in fact, not inherited. Specifically, 3 percent to 5 percent of all cases of colorectal cancer are due to hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HPNCC), while approximately 1 percent is due to familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP).

The following sections will provide an overview to the genetics of colorectal cancer, as well as examples of genetic syndromes associated with an increased risk for colorectal cancer.

Colorectal Cancer Care at
Rush University Medical Center

At Rush, home of one of the most comprehensive cancer programs in the country, skilled teams of surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, gastroenterologists, nurses, geneticists, dieticians and researchers work together, challenging convention, to tackle colorectal cancer. And when it comes to early detection, Rush is a pioneer in genetic counseling. By working closely with patients, colorectal cancer specialists at Rush gather family history data that will help identify family members at high and ultimately prevent the onset of colorectal cancer.

Click here for more information about colorectal cancer care at Rush.

Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Programs at
Rush University Medical Center in Chicago

At Rush, we offer a range of standard and investigational therapies for the treatment of cancer. We have more than a dozen programs specializing in the treatment of specific cancers, including:

Bone Cancer
Brain Cancer
Breast Cancer
Colorectal Cancer
Gynecological Cancers
Head and Neck Cancers
Hematological Malignancies
(cancers of the blood and lymph system)
Leukemia
Lung Cancer
Lymphoma
Myeloma
Orthopedic Cancers
Prostate Cancer
Radiation Oncology
Skin Cancers

Rush cancer programs are approved by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. Only one in four hospitals that treat cancer receive this special approval.

Click here to visit the home page for Cancer Programs at Rush.

Cancer Screening and Prevention
Cancer screening and prevention are priorities at Rush. Through genetic testing, counseling and advanced techniques for early detection, Rush helps people with a strong history of breast, ovarian, colon and other cancers. And in our state-of-the-art mammography center, we have one of the city’s finest teams of radiologists dedicated to early detection of breast cancer.

Cancer Support Programs at Rush
Cancer is not only a physical ordeal, it is also an emotional one, affecting cancer patients, their family and friends. To help address the whole person, we offer a number of resources to help patients and their loved ones cope in this difficult time.

For information on the cancer support programs at Rush click here.

Clinical Trials
Rush offers a number of clinical trials of experimental cancer treatments. Use the links below to search for studies for a particular form of cancer. If you are interested in exploring your eligibility for one of our open trials, please call (312) 942-8312. If we do not list trials for a particular type of cancer, please feel free to call us to discuss other treatment options.

For information on cancer clinical trial programs at Rush click here.

Find a Specialist at Rush
To find a cancer specialist at Rush, click on one of the following links:

To find specialist at Rush in other cancer-related areas, click on one of the following links:

Or make an appointment with a doctor at Rush by calling our toll-free physician referral number:

(888) 352-RUSH.

To reach the hospital operator, call (312) 942-5000. If you have difficulty hearing, call (312) 942-2207 (TTY/TTD).