Managing Risk for Cancers Related to Lynch Syndrome

Key points

  • If you have Lynch syndrome, you should be screened for colorectal (colon) cancer using colonoscopy. You may need to be screened more often and start at an earlier age than most people.
  • Talk to your doctor about screening for other cancers related to Lynch syndrome.
A man talks to his doctor

Cancers related to Lynch syndrome

People with Lynch syndrome are more likely to get colorectal (colon), uterine (endometrial), ovarian, stomach, small intestine, urinary tract (kidney, ureter, bladder), biliary tract (liver, gall bladder, bile ducts), pancreatic, prostate, brain, and some skin cancers.

Medical options

Several medical options are available for managing cancer risks in people who have Lynch syndrome. All of these options have possible risks and benefits. Talk to your doctor before making any medical decisions.

Colorectal cancer

The best way to prevent colorectal cancer is to get a colonoscopy every 1 to 2 years starting 2 to 5 years before the earliest colorectal cancer in the family. Most colorectal cancers start as polyps (abnormal growths) in the colon or rectum. During a colonoscopy, polyps can be removed before they turn into cancer.

Gynecologic cancers

Women with Lynch syndrome are more likely to get uterine (endometrial) and ovarian cancer. Since there is no simple and reliable way to screen for these cancers, it is especially important to recognize warning signs. Talk to your doctor if you have symptoms of gynecologic cancers.

Some options for managing risk for these cancers are:

  • Transvaginal ultrasound (a procedure used to examine the vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and bladder) and biopsy (removal of a small piece of tissue) to look for endometrial cancer.
  • CA-125 blood tests to look for ovarian cancer.
  • Surgery to remove the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes to prevent gynecologic cancers.

Other cancers

Other options may lower the chance of getting cancer or increase the chance of finding it early, but the effectiveness of these options is less certain. Some options are:

  • Daily aspirin use to lower the risk of colorectal cancer.
  • Endoscopy (using a thin tube with a light to look inside the body) to look for cancer in the stomach and small intestines.
  • A test for H. pylori (a germ that can cause stomach cancer).
  • Urine tests to look for cancer in the urinary tract.
  • Pancreatic cancer screening for those with a family history of pancreatic cancer.
  • Prostate cancer screening with a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test.
  • Skin exams by a dermatologist.
  • Education on the symptoms of brain cancer.

More information

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Content Source:
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; Division of Cancer Prevention and Control