The possibility of having a healthy pregnancy and maintaining one’s own health is an issue that comes up again and again for young women who are affected by Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (HDGC) and are contemplating prophylactic total gastrectomy. Pardeep Kaurah provides the following report titled “Pregnancy after prophylactic total gastrectomy,” which was just published in January, 2010.
Increased Risk of Colon Cancer in HDGC Patients
On January - 30 - 2010
The following is an excerpt from the as yet unpublished Cambridge meeting. The paper has just been accepted by the Journal of Medical Genetics and will be published early in the new year.
“There is also emerging evidence for an increased risk of colon cancer in HDGC families, and these colon cancers can display signet ring cell features (personal communications David Huntsman and Paul Pharoah). In CDH1 families in which colon cancer is reported information should be collected concerning the age at diagnosis, whether the affected member(s) are first or second degree relatives and whether the pathology was mucinous or showed signet ring cells. Depending on these factors enhanced screening should be considered with colonoscopy beginning at age 40 or 10 years younger than the youngest diagnosis of colon cancer, whichever is younger, and repeated at intervals of 3-5 years. It is imperative that data on colonoscopic screening in these individuals is collated so that these guidelines can be evidenced based in the future”.
Fitzgerald et al (2010) J.Med. Genet. in press.
Know your family history. Be proactive. Talk to your doctor about the health screenings that are appropriate for you.
Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer: British Columbia Cancer Agency Research Update June 2009
On June - 22 - 2009
Current Research Projects of the Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer Research Team at the British Columbia Cancer Agency.
David Huntsman, Pardeep Kaurah
Over the last 10 years, we have learnt a lot about hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC). However, there are still many critical knowledge deficits which need to be addressed to improve the cancer control of families with known CDH1 mutations and to inform the care of families with strong histories of gastric cancer of whom known mutations have been identified.
Our research team is both collaborating with other members of the International Gastric Cancer Linkage Consortium (IGCLC) to develop a more accurate understanding of the cancer risks associated with carrying CDH1 mutations, and is performing research locally that should help our global research community move forward.
Studies we are actively engaged in include: Read the rest of this entry »
Erin’s Gift Family Forum Notice
On March - 12 - 2009
Notice from Erin’s Gift regarding a Family Forum in Canada:
Add your name to the list of parties interested in attending a HDGC Family Forum. Plans are tentatively in the works for a forum in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for families affected by HDGC to be held within the next 3-5 years. The forum will include guest speakers such as Dr. David Huntsman. Please add your name to the contact list if you wish to receive further information as it develops.
March 2009
