Lynch Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Dr.Arun Giri, 3 mins read

Lynch Syndrome: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment
Lynch syndrome is a genetic condition that can cause cancer - usually colon and rectal cancer. Also known as hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), the condition passes down from one generation to another.

Families with this syndrome have a higher chance of developing many kinds of cancer. This may include cancer of the:

• Colon
• Endometrium
• Stomach
• Ureter
• Pancreas
• Ovary
• Biliary tract
• Pelvis
• Kidney
• Brain
• Small intestine
• Sebaceous gland

Symptoms:
The symptoms of Lynch syndrome vary from person to person. And depends on the type of cancer they have developed.

For example, if it is colorectal cancer, you may experience bloody stools, unexplained diarrhoea, nausea, persistent constipation, abdominal cramps, gas, bloating, lethargy, and weight loss.

However, many patients do not experience any symptoms in the early stage. But as the disease progresses, the symptoms become more noticeable. So, keep a check on your health and if you notice anything abnormal, visit a doctor.

It’s important to get a regular health checkup plan to get yourself screened periodically. This way, if anything wrong happens, you will identify it early and get proper treatment.

Also, understand the different types of cancer and their symptoms to be aware of any abnormal signs in your body.

Cause:
A human is made up of trillions of cells. These cells grow and then form new cells as part of their life cycle. They make copies of their DNA that contain genetic information. Sometimes the copies have errors.

Our body has mismatch repair genes to find these errors and fix them. When the mismatch repair genes do not work properly, the errors remain unfixed. This could cause some cells to grow or multiply abnormally and uncontrollably, leading to cancer.

These abnormal genes run in families. If one parent carries the Lynch syndrome, there is a 50% risk that each child will have these genes.

Diagnosis:
The identification process of Lynch syndrome starts with understanding the family history. The doctor will ask whether anyone in your family has had any of the cancers listed above. This will be followed by a series of exams and tests, including:

• Genetic testing
• Cancer cell testing like immunohistochemistry (IHC) and microsatellite instability (MSI) testing
• Other tests that your oncologist recommend

Treatment:
So far, there is no complete cure for Lynch syndrome. It’s good to keep a check on any abnormal symptoms and get regular cancer screening, especially if you have a family history of cancer. The earlier the cancer is detected, the better the treatment regimen will work.

The treatment regimen will be based on your condition and cancer type. Discuss with an oncologist about your treatment options.