Dearest Lois,
I am so heartbroken to hear he had polyps. But super glad to hear he has been tested, retested, familial & Lynch looked at. I am right beside you in the fear dept.
My Mike was 59 when I lost him this January. Mike's mom's father died of colon cancer at 38, her brother (his uncle) died of colon cancer at 36. Mike's mom has survived breast cancer, ovarian cancer and sarcoma of the hip. I have plans to have all 3 sons tested as soon as I come up for air- 22, 27 1/2 and 30. I am testing them all for familial cancer & Lynch syndrome too. Mike's MSI stable status supposedly meant Lynch syndrome was not an option. The head of the genetic testing dept at USC Norris had wanted to do more extensive testing on Mike- but his health took a dive & we pulled out of the clinical trial- and you all know the ending. I still have all of Mike's tumor slides & plan on having them run against my sons to add into the data base. I honestly think they need more research/ samples to work with and they are going to find more links than they presently have. There cannot be that much cancer in one family, and it all be chocked up to bad luck.
Genetic testing combines a study of family history with an analysis of patterns in genes and chromosomes within normal cells in order to determine the likelihood of a person developing a disease, or passing an inherited condition to their children.
familial cancer Cancer that occurs in families more often than would be expected by chance. These cancers often occur at an early age, and may indicate the presence of a gene mutation that increases the risk of cancer. They may also be a sign of shared environmental or lifestyle factors.
What is Lynch syndrome?Lynch syndrome, often called hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), is an inherited disorder that increases the risk of many types of cancer, particularly cancers of the colon (large intestine) and rectum, which are collectively referred to as colorectal cancer. People with Lynch syndrome also have an increased risk of cancers of the stomach, small intestine, liver, gallbladder ducts, upper urinary tract, brain, and skin. Additionally, women with this disorder have a high risk of cancer of the ovaries and lining of the uterus (the endometrium). People with Lynch syndrome may occasionally have noncancerous (benign) growths (polyps) in the colon, called colon polyps. In individuals with this disorder, colon polyps occur earlier but not in greater numbers than they do in the general population.
How common is Lynch syndrome?In the United States, about 140,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed each year. Approximately 3 to 5 percent of these cancers are caused by Lynch syndrome.
What genes are related to Lynch syndrome?Variations in the MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, or EPCAM gene increase the risk of developing Lynch syndrome.
The MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2 genes are involved in the repair of mistakes that occur when DNA is copied in preparation for cell division (a process called DNA replication). Mutations in any of these genes prevent the proper repair of DNA replication mistakes. As the abnormal cells continue to divide, the accumulated mistakes can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and possibly cancer.
Mutations in the EPCAM gene also lead to impaired DNA repair, although the gene is not itself involved in this process. The EPCAM gene lies next to the MSH2 gene on chromosome 2; certain EPCAM gene mutations cause the MSH2 gene to be turned off (inactivated), interrupting DNA repair and leading to accumulated DNA mistakes.
Although mutations in these genes predispose individuals to cancer, not all people who carry these mutations develop cancerous tumors.
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/lynch-syndromeThere is much more here by the NIH:
Genetics of Colorectal Cancer (PDQ®)http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/ ... ofessionalMANY Hugs to you and your family Lois.
Vicki