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HNPCC
This
cancer is responsible for about 1-5% of bowel cancer.
It is
also known as Lynch syndrome.
Patients with HNPCC develop a few
polyps and sometimes these turn to cancer.
If you
think your family may have HNPCC then you may need to see if you
can get a medical history of your family going back a couple of
generations. This may help the medical people to make their
diagnosis. If you don't have the history, then you may need to
keep looking into it to be sure. Always keep a positive outlook
and remind yourself that it is treatable
There is
a genetic test available that can help the diagnosis, however,
that requires a sample of a close relative's DNA as well.
HNPCC
is caused by a mutation (change) of a particular gene. It's
what's called a repair gene because it fixes problems which can
occur when new cells form in the bowel lining.
Because it's
hereditary, the altered gene can be carried through from
generation to generation but there's only a 50% chance of children
picking up the gene.
Not all
the people who are diagnosed with the gene mutation will get
cancer.
This
cancer appears to be one that develops as the patient gets older.
So, it's important to get checked regularly if you have been
diagnosed with HNPCC
For further information, contact the
Co-Ordinator of the Familial Cancer Registry at the Contacts Page.
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