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Business Insider·5 min read·medium

A simple saliva test could help families avoid cancer. So why aren't more people getting it?

A simple saliva test could help families avoid cancer. So why aren't more people getting it?
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Lynch syndrome is a hereditary condition that significantly increases the risk of various cancers, yet most people remain unaware they carry the mutation. The article advocates for increased awareness and genetic testing to enable early intervention and preventive care.

Why it matters

Early detection of genetic predispositions can save lives through proactive screening and medical intervention, addressing a significant gap in public health awareness.

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Lynch syndrome, a hereditary condition that increases cancer risk, has no symptoms. Most people don't realize they have it until after a cancer diagnosis. iStock; Tyler Le/BI After Bryce Ramsey was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer at 33, she learned another piece of shocking news: She had a genetically high chance of developing it from the very beginning. Ramsey tested positive for Lynch syndrome, a silent, inherited condition that heightened her lifetime risk of being diagnosed with colorectal cancer by up to 56% for her variant. It also put her at greater risk of developing ovarian, uterine, stomach, pancreatic, and other forms of cancer. Before she learned she had Lynch, Ramsey urged her relatives to also get screened for colon cancer. Since then, her father, brother, and aunt have all been diagnosed with various stages of colon cancer. Like Ramsey, her aunt also tested positive for Lynch.

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