With the holidays amongst us, it’s a great time to discuss all things family health history. While you’re sitting around the table gobbling down turkey, or snuggling by the fire wrapping presents, it’s important to understand your family history, and if you may be at risk for cancers such as colorectal cancer (CRC).

If you are a CRC survivor, it’s important that you know whether or not you have a genetic cancer condition, such as Lynch syndrome, and if so, you speak to your relatives and encourage them to begin screening at an earlier age.

Recently, Fight CRC interviewed Dr. Jordan Karlitz from Tulane University. Dr. Karlitz and his team have been conducting research around Lynch syndrome.

Highlights

• They aimed to understand what barriers may prevent physicians from testing colorectal cancer patients for Lynch syndrome.
• Cost, genetic counseling access, and unfamiliarity interpreting results were some of the key barriers identified.
• New guidelines call for universal testing which means that all colorectal cancer patients, regardless of age, should undergo tumor testing to screen for Lynch syndrome.

For more information on Lynch syndrome and recommended screening guidelines, check out our Genetics Mini-Magazine! https://fightcolorectalcancer.org/fight/library/genetics-mini-magazine/