We’re delighted to share the news that Dr. Kevin Monahan, Co-Director of The St. Mark’s Centre for Familial Intestinal Cancer, has been honoured with the British Society of Gastroenterology's Service Development Award in recognition of the work he leads in the field of Lynch Syndrome.
 
Lynch Syndrome is a genetic disease which can cause a predisposition to cancer.  Most people with Lynch Syndrome (LS) are well, but someone with LS has a 40-70% chance of developing colon cancer, and women also have a similar risk of cancer of the womb.  All those with LS have a higher risk of developing other types of cancer, and at a younger age (below 50).

Lynch Syndrome is not rare, but 95% of people with LS are not aware that they have the condition, although they may have a family history of cancer.
 
St. Mark’s established the UK’s first specialist Lynch Syndrome Clinic within its Family Cancer Clinic and 40tude’s funding is helping to progress The Lynch Syndrome Cancer Prevention programme, a multi-faceted initiative led by Kevin and his team aiming to create a new model in the prevention of Lynch-related colon cancer.   
 
This wide-reaching programme has three key components:

• Effective diagnosis and identification of people with LS in the UK: building a National Lynch Syndrome Registry, in collaboration with other NHS Trusts, to identify and ensure that people with LS are invited for regular cancer checks at the appropriate intervals;

• Evaluating the use of non-invasive colon cancer screening methods, such as FIT (poo) or blood/breath tests alongside the existing use of colonoscopy to improve surveillance and early detection of cancer in people with LS;

• Improving the understanding of how colon cancer develops in people with LS:  the ‘Lync Study’ is focusing on the biology of cancer development in LS patients, with the aim of progressing novel prevention therapies.  

All of these initiatives could contribute to an increase in personalisation of care for those with LS across the UK, for example ensuring that those at high risk of developing colon cancer receive the intensive monitoring and surveillance they require, whilst sparing low risk patients from unnecessary colonoscopies.

Congratulations to Kevin and all of the team on this prestigious award in recognition of the ground-breaking work that you pioneer at St. Mark’s, improving the early detection of colon cancer in those with LS.  40tude is very proud to be supporting your highly-regarded work.  See more at here