Family History of Colorectal Cancer

This condition is treated in the Colorectal surgery clinic.

Pre-referral work-up

History

All referrals should comply to the referral standards and include:

• Specific family history of cancer including:
  • Family member's relationship to the patient
  • Family member's age at diagnosis of colorectal cancer
  • If genetic testing has been done within the family

Tests

• Consider FOBT prior to referral
• Indicate if the patient is symptomatic or asymptomatic

Interim/GP management

To refer a patient with this condition, please see the Colorectal Surgery clinic page for the full referral process and templates.

All patients referred for surveillance colonoscopies after removal of polyps or for family history are triaged according to the following guidelines:

• Family history
• Surveillance of colonic polyps
• Bowel cancer

Note: Referrals of asymptomatic patients deemed not to meet guidelines will be returned to the referrer.

For more information please see the HealthPathways Tasmania website.

Consider referral for Direct Access Colonoscopy or to Genetics Service for discussion of risk.

Availability

North

Launceston General Hospital
Level 3 - Specialist Clinics

Phone: 1300 977 694
Fax: 03 6777 5227

North West

North West Regional Hospital
Phone: 03 6493 6300
Fax: 03 6464 1928

South

Liverpool Clinics (Level 7)
Phone: 03 6166 0000
Fax: 03 6234 9941