I Can’t Stress Enough, The Power of Knowing What’s In Your Genes, It’s Lifesaving!

By Cara Glowacki

When I was 10 years old my Dad, Anthony, died of kidney cancer. (The same cancer I had.) My half brother Tony had colon cancer in his 30’s when no one still knew about Lynch Syndrome, it had returned 18 years later.

When his cancer returned, his doctor thought he had something called Lynch Syndrome. His doctor tested him and his doctor was right. He did not survive and passed the same day I was getting my radical hysterectomy with BSO. He saved many lives informing the rest of the family. He save my life and my sisters. We are forever grateful.

We have lost relatives due to colon cancer, endometrial cancer, and kidney that we are certain of. All diagnosed at a young age.

I was diagnosed with LS after I had my kidney removed. I knew LS ran in the family now for 4 years. When I would show the paperwork that read my half brother had LS nothing happened. Many doctors never heard of LS.

I was told it was odd I had Renal Pelvic cancer, and was told I had “an old man’s cancer.” Despite this, no one seemed to make a connection or tried to make a connection with the Lynch syndrome paperwork I had and my diagnosis.

It was several months later I went to my primary doctor and said, look at this paperwork... This is the cancer I had, and my Dad had, this is the cancer my half brother had. I think I have LS and I want to be tested. She agreed, I was connected to an oncologist and genetic counselor. I was tested 7 months after the removal of my kidney and a few months later had a radical hysterectomy with bso.

Three years after my diagnosis my fraternal twin sister was diagnosed with stage 3 uterine cancer, and Lynch Syndrome.

I can’t stress enough, the power of knowing what’s in your genes. It is Lifesaving!