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May 2013 Moms
TradeMama
member
NBR: Lynch Syndrome
TradeMama
member
So, I debated bringing this up, since I tend to err on the side of less is more when it comes to personal information. However, I thought it was information that might help someone else.
After my mom was diagnosed with endometrial cancer, she started researching on the Internet. She came across information regarding a connection between certain types of cancer and genetics. Since my grandfather, his three brothers, my great grandfather, AND his dad all had colon cancer-- my mom got testing done which confirmed Lynch Syndrome.
Essentially, people with Lynch are missing a gene that repairs cells when they aren't right... Making them dramatically more susceptible to colorectal, endometrial, ovarian, skin and gastric cancers. (People with Lynch have a ~80% lifetime cancer risk, and typically are diagnosed younger than those in the general population.) There is no treatment, but with hyper-vigilance most cancers can be prevented or caught early.
I tested positive for Lynch. My treatment plan includes a preventative hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy (tubes + ovaries), yearly colonoscopies/endoscopies, yearly skin cancer checks, yearly cytology to check for bladder cancers, etc. Unfortunately, my kids are each at a 50% risk-- but they won't be tested til they are adults. My brother refuses to be tested.
So, the moral of the story is that if you have a family history of cancer (more than one person/more than one generation and any of them were younger than 50 when they were diagnosed) you should speak to your doctor about ramping up your surveillance or being tested!
After my mom was diagnosed with endometrial cancer, she started researching on the Internet. She came across information regarding a connection between certain types of cancer and genetics. Since my grandfather, his three brothers, my great grandfather, AND his dad all had colon cancer-- my mom got testing done which confirmed Lynch Syndrome.
Essentially, people with Lynch are missing a gene that repairs cells when they aren't right... Making them dramatically more susceptible to colorectal, endometrial, ovarian, skin and gastric cancers. (People with Lynch have a ~80% lifetime cancer risk, and typically are diagnosed younger than those in the general population.) There is no treatment, but with hyper-vigilance most cancers can be prevented or caught early.
I tested positive for Lynch. My treatment plan includes a preventative hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy (tubes + ovaries), yearly colonoscopies/endoscopies, yearly skin cancer checks, yearly cytology to check for bladder cancers, etc. Unfortunately, my kids are each at a 50% risk-- but they won't be tested til they are adults. My brother refuses to be tested.
So, the moral of the story is that if you have a family history of cancer (more than one person/more than one generation and any of them were younger than 50 when they were diagnosed) you should speak to your doctor about ramping up your surveillance or being tested!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: NBR: Lynch Syndrome
**DD1 - 7/9/98**
**DS - 11/9/00**
**DD2 - 4/30/13**