- Symptoms and criteria for diagnosis
- What causes the syndrome
- What are the risks of having the syndrome
- How the treatment is done
Lynch syndrome is a rare genetic disease that increases the risk of colon or bowel cancer and can even cause this cancer to appear in young people.
Usually families that have Lynch syndrome have an unusually high number of bowel cancer cases, which can help the doctor make the diagnosis.
Although there is no simple way to decrease your risk of cancer, having a healthy lifestyle and having regular gastroenterologist appointments can reduce the chances of complications, even if cancer does arise, as treatment can be started quickly.
Symptoms and criteria for diagnosis
The symptoms and criteria that help the doctor to diagnose this disease are:
- Having bowel cancer before age 50; Family history of bowel cancer in young people; Family history of several cases of uterine cancer;
In addition, families with many cases of other related cancers, such as ovarian, bladder or testicular cancer, may also have Lynch syndrome.
This syndrome is recessive, so if someone is diagnosed, they have a 50% chance of passing it on to their children.
What causes the syndrome
Lynch syndrome occurs when a malformation of one of the genes responsible for eliminating changes in the DNA appears, preventing the appearance of cancer. These genes can include MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2 and EPCAM and, therefore, laboratory blood tests are often done to confirm these changes.
However, there are also cases of families that present the syndrome without having any changes in these 5 genes.
What are the risks of having the syndrome
In addition to the high risk of developing bowel cancer, there are also increased chances of developing any of these types of cancer:
- Cancer of the stomach; Cancer of the liver or bile ducts; Cancer of the urinary tract; Brain tumor.
In women, there is still the possibility of developing cancer of the uterus or ovaries, for example.
Due to the increased risk of various types of cancer, it is advisable to have regular consultations in various medical specialties to undergo examinations and identify any changes early. One of the tests that can be done is the genetic examination of breast cancer that indicates the chances of developing this cancer.
How the treatment is done
There is no specific treatment for Lynch syndrome, however, some precautions can help reduce the risk of cancer such as:
- Eat a healthy and balanced diet, giving preference to fruits and vegetables; Do 30 minutes of exercise a day, at least 3 times a week; Do not smoke or drink alcohol, as they increase the risk of various types of cancer.
In addition, increasing your intake of antioxidants can also help reduce your risk of cancer. See the recipe for 4 simple juices that help prevent cancer.
