Cancer related to Lynch syndrome
People with Lynch syndrome are more likely to get colorectal (colon), uterine (endometrial), ovarian, stomach, small bowel, urinary tract (kidney, ureter, bladder), biliary tract (liver, gallbladder, bile duct), pancreatic, prostate, brain, and some skin cancers.
Medical options
Several medical options are available for managing cancer risks in people who have Lynch syndrome. All of these options have possible risks and benefits. Talk to your doctor before making any medical decisions.
Colorectal cancer
The best way to prevent colon cancer is to get one colonoscopy every 1 to 2 years starting 2 to 5 years before the earliest colorectal cancer in the family. Most colorectal cancers start as polyps (abnormal growths) in the colon or rectum. During a colonoscopy, polyps can be removed before they turn into cancer.
Gynecological cancers
Women with Lynch syndrome are more likely to get uterine (endometrial) and ovarian cancer. Since there is no simple and reliable way to screen for these cancers, it is especially important to recognize warning signs. Talk to your doctor if you have symptoms of gynecological cancer.
Some options for managing the risk of these cancers are:
- Transvaginal ultrasound (a procedure used to examine the vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and bladder) and biopsy (removal of a small piece of tissue) to look for endometrial cancer.
- CA-125 blood tests to check for ovarian cancer.
- Surgery to remove the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes to prevent gynecological cancer.
Other cancers
Other options may reduce the chance of getting cancer or increase the chance of finding it early, but the effectiveness of these options is less certain. Some options are:
- Daily use of aspirin to lower the risk of colon cancer.
- Endoscopy (using a thin tube with a light to see inside the body) to check for cancer of the stomach and small intestine.
- A test for H. pylori (a bacteria that can cause stomach cancer).
- Urine tests to check for cancer of the urinary tract.
- Pancreatic cancer screening for those with a family history of pancreatic cancer.
- Prostate cancer screening with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.
- Skin examinations by a dermatologist.
- Education about symptoms of brain cancer.
