Managing Your Cancer Risk
Other Types of Screening
Screening for other cancers are also available1 and recommended specifically to people who have Lynch syndrome or other genetic predispositions to develop cancer.
- Lynch syndrome patients may be at greater risk for gastric cancer. Screening for this disease involves an EGD or esophagogastroduodenoscopy with extended duodenoscopy and polypectomy. Routine baseline gastric biopsies may also be used to evaluate for H. Pylori to help treat the infection early on. Individuals with a family history of gastric cancer should begin screening at age 35 and continue every 2-3 years.
- Current studies are working to evaluate the risk of developing breast cancer in Lynch syndrome patients. To screen for breast cancer, mammograms, breast MRI, clinical breast exams, and regular breast self-exams are utilized to detect any irregularities as early as possible.
- Lynch syndrome patients are at a heightened risk to develop urinary tract cancer. Annual urinalysis is used as a screening method and should begin at age 25-35.
- Patients with Lynch syndrome may also have an increased risk to develop liver cancer. An alpha-fetoprotein blood test and liver ultrasound is utilized to spot liver cancer early. Alpha-fetoprotein is a biomarker made by the tumor that may be elevated in the blood of liver cancer patients.
Works Cited
1PDQ Screening and Prevention Editorial Board. (2019, January 16th). PDQ Screening Tests. Retrieved from National Cancer Institute: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/screening/screening-tests#effective-screening
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