As a genetic counselor I can tell you that IF you have inherited the gene change for FAP no diet will change your risk for colon cancer (which is virtually 100% in untreated patients) because you are lacking a tumor suppressor gene. I am a big believer in paleo but there are certain things food can't change and genetic conditions are one of them. There are treatments and management protocols to significantly reduce your risk of cancer if you have FAP so I highly suggest you get yourself to a genetic counselor or geneticist to discuss your options.

I don't know about the big picture but at the cellular level cancer cells need glucose to survive and multiply. Carbs are converted into glucose. It would appear a low carb diet would reduce your risk of cancer.

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-stanford-potential-anti-cancer-therapy-starves.html

If you are concerned about hereditary cancer, you really need to see a genetic counselor -- here's a link to help you find one. I have a BRCA2 mutation (hereditary breast/ovarian cancer syndrome gene) and am an oncology nurse -- seriously, diet is not a sufficient intervention for a cancer-predisposing mutation. You need to know (a) if you actually have an identifiable mutation and (b) what your risk-reduction options are.

You might want to read this.

Thanks for that link Brad. Interesting info but a tad worrisome. I say worrisome because no way do I tolerate the amount of "safe starches" recommended by Jaminet although I do enjoy his work very much and there is much in his excellent book for those of us interested in autophagy and ketogenic diets - plus other helpful info. Back to the link -- when the long-term Optimal dieter (referring to Kwasniewski diet) referenced who stated that there was a feeling that long-term Optimal dieters were succumbing to colon, stomach and duodenol cancers at frequent rates -- does anyone have any actual numbers? Also, these long-term dieters were purportedly on the diet for over a decade so I can't help but wonder if cause and effect with respect to diet isn't a stretch without knowing other factors such as genetic susceptibility; actual diet compliance; amount of smoked and non-organic foods eaten; H-Pylori infection; vitamin d status; alcohol consumption; smoking habits, etc etc etc. I would think very low carb advocating physicians would have noticed if their patients were developing the above cancers at alarming rates. Certainly deceased low carb advocating physicians such as Wolfgang Lutz, H.L Newbold and Blake Donaldson did not mention this in their books. Lutz was a gastroenerologist and Life Without Bread translation advocates starting at around 72 carbs but these can be gradually lowered as desired -- the higher amount is to avoid undue stress reactions -- no mention made of dangers from mucus deficiency when going lower. As someone with a hypothyroid condition, I find it interesting that more mucin is somehow desirable in the colon when excess mucin is a hallmark of untreated hypothyroidism -- puffy looking, thickened skin.

FAP relies on a strict definition of actually seeing polyps within your colon.

If you really have FAP, you need your colon removed. The typical protocol is for FAP patients to have their colon removed early in life to avoid getting cancer.

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/fpc.htm

I would strongly suggest you see a physician to get both genetically tested and have your colon scoped to check for polyps. 100% percent of these patient get cancer in their colon, so please check this out.