Victoria Thurston, a 51-year-old mother of five from Martlesham, Suffolk, discovered early-stage womb cancer after volunteering for an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) research study. Genetic testing through the study identified that Thurston has Lynch syndrome, an inherited condition that increases the risk of several cancers. This diagnosis led to a preventative hysterectomy in January, during which doctors at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge found and removed the malignancy.
How IBD Research Led to a Cancer Diagnosis
Thurston’s path to diagnosis began with her struggle with ulcerative colitis. After experiencing symptoms in 2016, she was diagnosed with the condition in 2017. Her illness was described as extensive, requiring multiple major surgeries, including the removal of her large intestine.
Seeking to help others with digestive conditions, Thurston volunteered for the IBD BioResource, a national research platform studying Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. As part of a pilot project, she agreed to be notified if genetic analysis uncovered health-relevant information. Her genes were analyzed at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, and the IBD BioResource team identified Lynch syndrome, a finding later confirmed by NHS East Genomics.
Did you know? Lynch syndrome is an inherited genetic condition. According to Cambridge University Hospitals, it significantly increases the risk of bowel and womb cancers, as well as ovarian, stomach, and pancreatic cancers.
The Role of Preventative Surgery in Early Detection
Upon learning of her genetic predisposition, Thurston consulted specialists in genetics and women’s health at Addenbrooke’s. She opted for a preventative hysterectomy to reduce her cancer risk. However, routine tests performed ahead of the procedure revealed she already had early-stage womb cancer.
“If I hadn’t gone into the research, I wouldn’t have known that I had the cancer,” Thurston told us, adding that the disease might have developed or spread in a year or two’s time.
Ms. Helen Bolton, a consultant gynaecology surgeon at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, stated that the cancer was found during routine tests carried out for women with Lynch syndrome before a hysterectomy. Bolton noted that cancers of this type can grow without being detected and that she was “very fortunate” to have chosen to undergo the operation when she did.
Medical Complexity and Recovery
The surgery in January was complex due to Thurston’s medical history, involving both gynaecological and gastrointestinal surgical teams because of her complex medical history. Following the procedure, results confirmed the cancer was gone, and Thurston did not require further cancer treatment.
While now cancer-free, Thurston’s Lynch syndrome diagnosis means she will continue to undergo regular screening for other associated cancers. Because the condition is inherited, her children can also be tested.
Clinical Insight: Up to 60% of women with Lynch syndrome go on to develop womb cancer.
Lynch Syndrome Risk Factors
The Trust says around one in 400. The condition predisposes individuals to develop particular types of cancer including bowel, womb, ovarian, stomach and pancreatic cancers. For Thurston, discovering she had the condition made sense when she considered her family’s medical history and she wanted to support relatives who chose to undergo testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lynch syndrome?
It is an inherited genetic condition that increases a person’s risk of developing certain cancers, including bowel, womb, ovarian, stomach, and pancreatic cancers, according to Cambridge University Hospitals.
How was the cancer detected in this case?
The cancer was found during routine tests carried out for women with Lynch syndrome before a hysterectomy.
Can Lynch syndrome be passed to children?
Yes. Due to it being inherited, her children can also be tested.
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