Cancers related to Lynch syndrome
People with Lynch syndrome are more likely to develop colorectal (colon), uterine (endometrium), ovary, stomach, small intestine, urinary tract (kidney, ureter, bladder), biliary tract (liver, gallbladder, bile ducts), pancreas, prostate, brain, and some skin cancers.
Medical options
There are several medical options available to manage cancer risks in people who have Lynch syndrome. All of these options have potential risks and benefits. Talk to your doctor before making any medical decisions.
colorectal cancer
The best way to prevent colorectal cancer is to have a colonoscopy every 1 to 2 years, starting 2 to 5 years before the earliest colorectal cancer in the family. Most colorectal cancers begin 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 easy, reliable way to detect these cancers, it is especially important to recognize the warning signs. Talk to your doctor if you have symptoms of gynecologic cancer.
Some options to control 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 test to detect ovarian cancer.
- Surgery to remove the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes to prevent gynecologic cancers.
Other cancers
Other options may reduce the chance of getting cancer or increase the chance of detecting it early, but the effectiveness of these options is less certain. Some options are:
- Daily use of aspirin to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.
- Endoscopy (using a thin tube with a light to look inside the body) to look for cancer in the stomach and small intestine.
- a test for H. pylori (a germ that can cause stomach cancer).
- Urinalysis to look for cancer in the urinary tract.
- Pancreatic cancer screening for people with a family history of pancreatic cancer.
- Screening for prostate cancer with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.
- Skin examinations by a dermatologist.
- Education about brain cancer symptoms.
