Colorectal cancer

I know a person living with cystic fibrosis who developed colorectal cancer. Are we more at risk than the general population?

For several years, the median age of survival in cystic fibrosis has been increasing. This is obviously good news. But as they age, people with CF contract diseases that they did not know about before: for example, cancer. A study conducted by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (American Cystic Fibrosis Foundation) looked at the risk of colorectal cancer in order to make recommendations on its screening. According to the latter, a colonoscopy every 5 years would be recommended from the age of 40 for non-transplanted CF and from the age of 30 for transplanted people. For transplant recipients, the first colonoscopy should be performed within the first two years after the transplant. If adenomatous polyps are present, it is recommended that the colonoscopy be repeated every three years.

These recommendations are similar to the guidelines for screening in the non-CF population where the recommended age for initial screening is approximately 10 years earlier than the average age of cancer onset.

The data available at this time is not clear about the level of risk of developing colorectal cancer. Although some problems related to cystic fibrosis and transplantation may increase the possibility of it, the fact that certain risky behaviors are less adopted by people with CF, such as smoking cigarettes, decreases the risks.

In any case, we suggest that you talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about this.

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