What is the treatment for FAP?

What is the treatment for FAP?

There is no known medical cure for FAP. Surgery is required because of the large number of adenomas and the 100 per cent risk of colon cancer. In FAP, removal of the large bowel, or colon, is standard treatment and is called colectomy.

Is FAP serious?

Children with FAP develop hundreds to thousands of polyps throughout their colon at a young age, usually as a teenager or young adult. The polyps may become cancerous if untreated. However, FAP is very treatable and most kids with FAP lead normal, healthy lives.

At what age is surgery typically considered for FAP?

There are no guidelines regarding the timing of surgery and most classical FAP patients undergo surgery between 15 and 25 years of age. Preferably prophylactic, an elective resection may be planned considering individual and family features, as well as patient’s preferences[12].

How long can you live with Gardner syndrome?

Total protocolectomy involves the removal of the large intestine and most of the rectum. The five-year survival rate for people who undergo protocolectomy for Gardner syndrome is almost 100%. This means that nearly all people who have this type of treatment are still alive five years later.

What is familial adenomatous polyposis?

Summary Summary. Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is an inherited condition that causes cancer of the large intestine (colon) and rectum. People with the classic type of FAP usually develop hundreds to thousands of noncancerous (benign) polyps (growths) in the colon as early as their teenage years.

What causes adenomatous polyposis coli?

Overview. Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a rare, inherited condition caused by a defect in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene. Most people inherit the gene from a parent. But for 25 to 30 percent of people, the genetic mutation occurs spontaneously. FAP causes extra tissue (polyps) to form in your large intestine (colon) and rectum.

What is the most severe form of adenomatous polyposis?

Familial adenomatous polyposis. Of the three, FAP itself is the most severe and most common; although for all three, the resulting colonic polyps and cancers are confined to the colon wall and removal can greatly reduce the spread of cancer.

How is familial adenomatous polyps (FAP) treated?

Treatment of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is focused on managing the risk for colon cancer. Screening for colon cancer and polyps by endoscopy may begin in childhood. There is the option to remove the colon (colectomy) before colon cancer develops. The timing of this surgery is based on multiple factors.