Choosing the Best Colon Surgery for Lynch Syndrome

Removing the entire colon (subtotal colectomy) is sometimes recommended for patients with Lynch syndrome when colon cancer is diagnosed.  In addition, some people who have an inherited Lynch mutation have their colons removed to prevent colon cancer.

While subtotal colectomy didn’t reduce deaths from Lynch-related colon cancer, it did cut down on additional colorectal cancer diagnoses and the need for other abdominal surgery. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on February 5th, 2010
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Tags: Lynch syndrome, subtotal colectomy, surgery

Risk for Lynch Syndrome Related Cancers in MSH6 Mutations

People with a mutation in the MSH6 gene, part of the Lynch syndrome, have a greatly increased risk of colorectal, endometrial, and other related cancers.  The cancers can occur in old age, with an increasing risk from age 70 to 80.

About 4 in every 1000 colorectal cancers are due to an inherited mutation in the MSH6 gene.  It accounts for about 10 to 20 percent of Lynch syndrome mutations.

By the time they are 80 years old, men have eight times the risk of getting colorectal cancer and women have 26 times the risk of endometrial cancer — cancer that begins in the lining of the uterus.

Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on December 23rd, 2009
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Tags: inherited cancer, Lynch syndrome, MSH6

Colorectal Cancer News in Brief: November 1

Sgt. Joshua T. Rose and Iron (Photo by Tina Susman)

Briefly: Pancreatic cancer occurs in about on in five Lynch syndrome families, increasing risk for the cancer substantially.

Colorectal cancer patients whose tumors don’t have EGFR on immunohistochemical testing can still benefit from Erbitux treatment.

Patients learn more and like medical consultations better when doctors sit side-by-side with them to view tests.

Gastroenterologists deployed in Iraq are using their skills to help military working dogs. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on November 2nd, 2009
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Tags: EGFR, Erbitux, Lynch syndrome, military dogs

Aspirin Prevents Lynch Syndrome Cancers

ECCO/ESMO UPDATE — BERLIN 2009

Although initial reports found no reduction in polyps or cancer in people with Lynch syndrome who took aspirin and/or resistant starch supplements, longer follow-up tells a difference story.

About five years after trial participants began taking aspirin or a placebo, differences began to emerge. Even though patients in the trial only took aspirin for four years, later followup found significantly fewer colon colon cancers among those who had used  aspirin, as well as fewer Lynch-related cancers overall.   There were almost three times as many colon cancers in Lynch carriers who took a placebo compared to those who used aspirin. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on September 24th, 2009
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Tags: aspirin, colorectal cancer prevention, Lynch syndrome

September is GYN Cancers Month

September is set aside to raise awareness of gynecological cancers.  GYN cancers affect women’s reproductive organs including the cervix, endometrium, uterus, fallopian tubes, vagina, vulva, and ovaries.

In 2009 there will be an estimated 80,720 new cases of GYN cancers and 28,120 deaths.

Women with Lynch syndrome (also known as hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer or HNPCC)  have a high lifetime risk of endometrial cancer, reaching 71 percent by the age of 70.  This is much higher than the general population whose risk is less than 2 percent. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on August 31st, 2009
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Tags: endometrial cancer, Lynch syndrome, ovarian cancer