Lynch Syndrome Does Not Go Away With Age

By James Coffas

I am a 50 year old colon cancer survivor with Lynch. I found out about 12-15 yrs. ago I had Lynch and of course was a carrier. I passed it on to my youngest daughter and her family, in fact she has already been operated on and is a survivor and so far cancer free.

I found out because a student was doing research at the U. of S. Carolina. Luckily my internist knew about it (he was the only one of my doctors that had heard of it).
He started me having colonoscopies every two years and scans of my mid-section every 3 years. Also he instructed my doctor to exam me higher up in the colon.
Once I was told I had Lynch, I looked at my family tree and found many had colon cancer and quite a few had died.

I also immediately contacted every family member I could think of, regardless of how far out, to warn them they needed extra care and sent them what literature I had found. I know at least one family member went back to his doctor with my letter, he had a colonoscopy 8 months earlier, his father also died from colon cancer). His doctor reexamined him, surprise he did have cancer! He’s doing fine now, but would not have been checked for 3 more years at which time it would have been too late.

All my readings said you did not have to really worry about Lynch once you passed 75. Surprise, I got cancer at 80! I have been operated on and for now am cancer free. Obviously missing a link, Lynch can't read or have respect for age, so be warned you are not Lynch free after 75, keep up the tests, the exams and the prayers.

Especially keep mentioning it to friends and relatives at every chance—you will save someone!