Lynch syndrome

Research conducted at The University of Manchester has played a key role in securing an important change to cancer screening policy in England and Wales.

A new piece of national health guidance published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on Wednesday, 28 October was based upon research conducted at the University. The research demonstrated a link between Lynch syndrome, which increases an individual’s risk of developing many cancers, and womb cancer.

The study, led by Professor Emma Crosbie, concluded that all women diagnosed with womb cancer should be tested for Lynch syndrome so that they and their families can find out whether this inherited condition has raised their cancer risk.

After a two-year long process of engagement, the new NICE guideline also recommends Lynch syndrome testing for everyone diagnosed with womb cancer.

Doing so will identify more than 1,000 additional cases of Lynch syndrome every year and give every person affected by it the chance to manage their risks and takes steps that will greatly improve their chances of surviving womb and bowel cancer.

#LetsTalkLynch Campaign

In 2018, Policy@Manchester partnered with gynaecological cancer charity The Eve Appeal, to raise awareness of our research into Lynch syndrome and what it means for cancer screening practices.

We created a series of short videos outlining this research, what it means, and the real stories of women and families who have been affected by Lynch syndrome and Lynch-related cancer.

Find out more about this condition, and what universal screening would mean for thousands of families every year, by watching and sharing these films: