Colon Cancer Genetic Testing

What Do the Results Mean?

Colon cancer genetic testing is a blood test that looks for the changed (mutated) genes that cause colon cancer. Although most people who get colon cancer do not have one of these mutated genes, having them greatly increases your chance of getting colon cancer.

A positive result means that you may have one of the changed genes that causes FAP or HNPCC. It also means that your chances of getting colon cancer are very high. A negative result means that none of these genes were found in your blood sample.

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Author:	Bets Davis, MFA	Last Updated: May 28, 2008
Medical Review:	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Siobhan M. Dolan, MD, MPH - Reproductive Genetics
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