Thousands of people with a genetic condition that increases their risk of developing certain cancers will be offered preventive screening on the NHS.
Around 175,000 people in England have Lynch syndrome, but only 5 per cent (the equivalent of about 10,000 people) know they have it.
This inherited disease increases the risk of developing bowel cancer by 80 percent. Every year around 1,100 cases of bowel cancer occur due to this syndrome.
The NHS will now invite patients to have bowel tests every two years in a bid to detect the disease at earlier stages, when treatment is more likely to be successful.
Steve Russell, NHS national director of screening and vaccination, said: “Our successful bowel cancer screening program already helps identify thousands of cancers each year.
‘Now thousands more people who have been diagnosed with Lynch syndrome will also have regular colonoscopies to check for signs of cancer and detect the disease earlier.
Around 175,000 people in England have Lynch syndrome, but only 5 per cent of those with the hereditary disease know they have it.
“Ensuring that people who we know are at higher risk of developing cancer undergo regular screening is key to diagnosing cancers at an earlier stage, and I would encourage all guests to come forward and get screened.” detection at a nearby local center.
One in 400 people in England are thought to suffer from this condition, but only 10,000 people in England are registered with Lynch syndrome.
A simple blood test can diagnose the condition, which is then passed through a regional genomic laboratory center, sequenced, and then sent back to the referring doctor.
Although the syndrome does not cause cancer directly, genetic changes can cause the development of more abnormal cells, which then multiply and increase the risk of developing cancers, such as bowel, prostate and endometrial cancer.
According to the NHS, for every 100 patients who are screened, between 40 and 60 cases of bowel cancer are prevented.
During the screening appointment, patients will be seen by a team of specialists and evaluated for a colonoscopy, which looks for polyps and signs of bowel cancer.
Checks will be offered at local bowel cancer screening centres, close to people’s homes, making it more convenient for people to get tested.
A diagnosis of Lynch syndrome not only helps guide more personalized cancer treatment, but also allows you to offer testing to your family and relatives.
Cheltenham college lecturer Nicola Theis was told she has the disease after her father’s diagnosis.
She said: ‘It all started when my dad was diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer in 2019 and was only given months to live, which as you can imagine was devastating for our family.
‘She had researched the importance of genetics in finding the most appropriate treatment options and after her results confirmed that her cancer was related to Lynch syndrome, she began receiving immunotherapy and, incredibly, this treatment began to shrink her tumour.
‘Miraculously, he was cancer-free in less than a year and his scans have been clear ever since. I am very happy that she is still with us.”
Genevieve Edwards, chief executive of Bowel Cancer UK, said the charity hopes to “see a huge improvement” in outcomes for people with the condition.
She said: ‘Those who have been diagnosed with Lynch syndrome will now have regular access to high-quality colonoscopy tests, regardless of where they live in England.
“As the first country in the world to implement a program like this, we are leading the way to improve care for people with Lynch syndrome and ultimately save lives.”
The move comes almost a year after the health service began rolling out a genetic test for Lynch syndrome.
From April 2023, people diagnosed with bowel and endometrial cancer will be offered genomic testing, which studies DNA, helping them receive more personalized treatment.
Dr Robert Logan, national specialist adviser on endoscopy and bowel screening at NHS England, said bowel screening is “great news for patients”.
“Not only has genetic testing for this disease dramatically increased in less than five years, but we are also ensuring that patients diagnosed with Lynch syndrome are guaranteed to receive the high-quality surveillance colonoscopy they need thanks to the national screening program. detection”.