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Cancer Risk

Read about different genes that are linked to hereditary cancer, their associated risks and guidelines for screening, preventing and treating cancers in people with inherited mutations in these genes.

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Hereditary Cancer and Genetic Testing > Hereditary Cancer Genes and Risk > By Gene Mutation > MSH2 (Lynch syndrome) > Cancer Risk

Cancer risk associated with inherited mutations

If you have tested positive for an mutation, we recommend speaking with a genetics expert who can look at your personal and family history of cancer, and can help you decide on a plan to manage your risk. Note that when we use "men" and "women" we are referring to the sex you were assigned at birth.

*Risk for cancer in people with an mutation. Source: NCCN: Genetic/Familiar High-Risk Assessment: Colorectal Version 1.2021*
Cancer type	Lifetime risk with for people with mutation	Lifetime risk for people in general population	Average age of diagnosis for people with mutation	Average age of diagnosis for people in the general population
Colorectal	33 - 52%	4.2%	44 years	68 - 72 years
Endometrial	21 - 57%	3.1%	47 - 48 years	60 years
Ovarian	8 - 38%	1.3%	43 years	63 years
Kidney/ureter	2.2 - 28%	unknown	54 - 61 years	Not specified
Bladder	4.4 - 12.8%	2.4%	59 years	73 years
Gastric	0.2 - 9%	0.9%	52 years	68 years
Small bowel	1.1 - 10%	0.3%	48 years	60s - 70s
	3.9 - 23.8%	11.6%	59 - 63 years	66 years
Brain	2.5 - 7.7%	0.6%	No data	59 years
Biliary tract	.02 - 1.7%	0.2%	57 years	70 - 72 year

People with an inherited mutation may have an increased risk for other cancers. The exact risks for the following cancers are unknown:

pancreatic cancer
sebaceous skin growths
female breast cancer

Research on how inherited mutations in the gene affect cancer risk is ongoing.

Graph of lifetime risk for colorectal cancer in person with an EPCAM mutation Graph of lifetime risk for endometrial cancer with an EPCAM mutation

Graph of lifetime risk for bladder cancer in person with EPCAM mutation

Graph of lifetime prostate cancer risk in men with EPCAM mutation Graph of lifetime risk for kidney or ureteral cancer in person with EPCAM mutation

It is important to note that cancer risks are estimates over the course of a person's lifetime. Your lifetime risk and risk over the next five years will vary depending on:

current age
sex assigned at birth
specific mutation
personal and family health history
diet, exercise, lifestyle and other factors

Last updated February 27, 2023

Get Support

FORCE offers many peer support programs for people with inherited mutations.

Our Message Boards allow people to connect with others who share their situation. Once registered, you can post on the Diagnosed With Cancer board to connect with other people who have been diagnosed.
Our Peer Navigation Program will match you with a volunteer who shares your mutation and situation.
Our moderated, private Facebook group allows you to connect with other community members 24/7.
Check out our virtual and in-person support meeting calendar.
Join one of our Zoom community group meetings.

updated: 08/06/2022

Cancer risk associated with inherited MSH2 mutations

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Cancer risk associated with inherited mutations