How Lynch syndrome increases uterine and colon cancer risk 

[Text on screen: Ohio State Health & Discovery
How Lynch syndrome increases uterine and colon cancer risk ]

[Music playing]

[Text on screen: Leigha Senter-Jamieson, MS, CGC
Licensed Genetic Counselor
OSUCCC - James]

Leigha Senter-Jamieson, MS, CGC: Lynch syndrome is a hereditary condition that increases risk primarily for colon cancer and uterine cancer. 

[Music fades]

In families with Lynch syndrome we can also see that they have an increased risk for different kinds of cancer too, but the risk is not quite as high, so really the focus often becomes on screening and prevention for colon and uterine cancers. If you have Lynch syndrome in your family, you should talk to your doctor or a genetic counselor about getting genetic testing too, to see if you also have Lynch syndrome.

If you do, it might mean that we need to start colonoscopy at a younger age than typical, just to make sure that we're doing our best to prevent colon cancer. And really this testing recommendation extends to anyone in the family, typically over the age of 18, but we want to make sure that we get that information as soon as it's useful. You might be hearing about Lynch syndrome more and more these days. Part of that is that we're doing a better job getting the word out about what Lynch syndrome is, but we also have seen that more people are diagnosed with colon cancer at a young age today in the United States. 

[Music playing]

And sometimes that can be due to Lynch syndrome.

[Text on screen: Ohio State Health & Discovery
For more information, visit:
go.osu.edu/cancergenetics]

[Music fades]