What is Lynch Syndrome?

Lynch syndrome (also known as HNPCC or hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer) is an autosomal dominant genetic condition that has a high risk of colon cancer as well as other cancers including endometrial cancer (second most common), ovary, stomach, small intestine, hepatobiliary tract, upper urinary tract, brain, and skin. The increased risk for these cancers is due to inherited mutations that impair DNA mismatch repair. It is a type of cancer syndrome.

According to Scottsdale Healthcare’s Dr. Mike Janicek, Lynch Syndrome is as prevalent as the breast & ovarian cancer syndrome. Though Lynch Syndrome is hard to explain, what we know about this disease is that it doesn’t just affect the breast and ovaries.

It is hard to categorize because it is a wide spectrum of diseases: brain cancer, stomach, duodenal, liver, gallbladder, kidney, uterus, bladder, bowel and even some rare skin cancers. Breast cancer’s sister is ovarian cancer, which is also part of Lynch syndrome.

The most important thing you can do for yourself it is to be aware of your risk. Dr. Mike Janicek says, “Preventing cancer should be our supreme goal and one of the most powerful tools we have now is the genetic information that gives us very advanced warning before the cancer has a chance to develop.”

Find out more about Lynch Syndrome by watching the video above.

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