Lynch Syndrome – is there a doctor in the house?

Question by Scooter’s Roofin’: Lynch Syndrome – is there a doctor in the house?
I was diagnosed & successfully treated for cervical cancer almost 3 1/2 years ago. (HPV was most likely the cause)

So as a survivor, my gynecologic oncologist has had me do the mammogram & now a colonoscopy to screen for any other cancers. I’m 40 years old, btw, and have always been very healthy. Honestly, the cervical cancer was a big “hiccup” in a pretty good life.

So I get the colonoscopy done, and when I come to from my sedation the doctor tells me he found 1 polyp, 8mm in size and removed it for biopsy, but that judging from it’s shape/characteristics, he believed it to be Lynch syndrome. Explained it put me at a higher risk of DEVELOPING colon cancer.

He handed me some info from the Mayo clinic on it and I was out the door.

Today I had a re-check with my gynecologic oncologist and told her to expect a report from the colonoscopy to be coming in, told her what his suspicions were and she replied, “but Lynch syndrome IS cancer”.

So now, of course I’m in a real twist about this. It’s one thing to think it COULD happen, another to be told it HAS happened, if you know what I mean.

As I read the info, it doesn’t match up to my family history, as I know it. There are no 1st degree relatives with colon cancer – none – and I’m from a big family. Now I realize with a genetic disorder such as this, it’s a roll of the dice as to who gets what. But out of 6 kids, no one has had colon cancer – and I’m the youngest.

Plus, there’s been no stomach, kidney, endometrial, ovarian cancers. My Mom had a cancerous mole removed, but that is about it.

And of course, right before Christmas, the timing is really bad. I’ll not mention any of this to my husband until I have reason to mention it, and it will come after the holidays, if at all.

So is there anyone out there with a firm grasp of this disorder that can offer some advice?

Thanks in advance. Have a Merry Christmas.

Best answer:

Answer by Cats
No lynch syndrome is NOT cancer! Also called hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, it is a risk for colorectal cancer and other cancers (endometrial, ovarian, small intestine, hepatobiliary, brain, skin, etc)
It is characterized by a defect in the DNA’s mismatch repair system. Individuals with lynch have about an 80% lifetime risk of colon cancer. What you are talking about with the family history, etc is the Amsterdam Criteria and it isn’t always correct – up to 40% of patients don’t meet the criteria.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!