Diseases

Familial Adenomatous Polyposis

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Familial adenomatous polyposis (fap) is an autosomal dominant inherited condition in which numerous adenomatous polyps form mainly in the epithelium of the large intestine. While these polyps start out benign, malignant transformation into colon cancer occurs when they are left untreated.

SYMPTOMS

Blood or mucus in the stools, or bleeding from the back passage.
Diarrhoea or constipation (a change in the normal bowel habit that lasts longer than six weeks)
Pain in the tummy (abdomen) or back passage.
Weight loss for no obvious reason.

CAUSES

Familial adenomatous polyposis (fap) is an inherited disorder characterized by cancer of the large intestine (colon) and rectum. People with the classic type of familial adenomatous polyposis may begin to develop multiplenoncancerous (benign) growths (polyps) in the colon as early as their teenage years.