Genes are inherited in pairs. You inherit one from your mother and one from your father. If someone has Lynch syndrome, one copy of a mismatch repair (MMR) gene is altered and is not working properly. A mismatch gene is a gene involved in making repairs to errors in DNA. If a parent has Lynch syndrome, they can pass the affected gene on to their children. This means that each of their children have a 1 in 2 chance of also having Lynch syndrome.
Knowing this information means you can take steps to reduce your risk of developing cancer. Ask your healthcare provider about where you can get support to talk to your family.
Lynch Syndrome Ireland 