BETHLEHEM. Pa., June 18,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Though only age 38, Nick Lumi recently underwent a colonoscopy to
search for the presence of polyps or evidence of cancer.
Lumi, of Nazareth, doesn't have
any symptoms of colon cancer, nor a family history of it, yet he
underwent the colonoscopy because a special blood test, offered at
no cost via a St. Luke's community health research study called DNA
Answers, found he carries a gene variant, or mutation, in one of
the genes associated with Lynch syndrome.
Lynch syndrome is an inherited condition with an increased risk
for developing different types of cancer, most notably colorectal
cancer. The risk of developing colorectal cancer is about 5%, but
with Lynch syndrome it jumps to 40% - 60% for women and 60% - 80%
for men.
St. Luke's launched the community health research study, DNA
Answers, last December in partnership with Helix, Inc., a
California-based leader in
population genomics. One of the goals of this joint initiative is
to offer, at no cost to the participants, the opportunity to
participate in research and have access to the latest screening
techniques that support "precision medicine."
"Through insights gleaned from patients' unique genetic make-up,
precision medicine enables 'individually tailored' health care –
from early disease diagnosis to individualized treatment," said St.
Luke's Senior Vice President of Clinical Integration, Aldo Carmona, MD.
Principal Investigator for DNA Answers, Chairman of the
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Medical
Director for Precision Medicine at St. Luke's, Dr. Christopher Chapman noted, "DNA Answers
initially aims to enroll 100,000 participants over four years. The
individuals who participate in the research study will be provided,
at no cost, with important health information about their potential
risks for serious health conditions such as certain types of
cardiovascular disease and different types of cancer, thereby
allowing them to make proactive decisions in conjunction with their
healthcare providers to potentially delay or even prevent these
conditions from occurring later in life."
"At first, having the test was a novelty to me, to learn if I
have a predisposition to liking the taste of cilantro or to learn
more about the geographic location of my ancestry," Lumi
said.
In terms of learning that he carries a gene variant associated
with Lynch Syndrome, Lumi recounted, "it was a surprise to me, and
I'm glad I took the blood test, because now I can do something to
try to prevent the cancer from developing or have it treated more
precisely if I'm found to have it."
About St. Luke's
Founded in 1872, St. Luke's University Health Network is a fully
integrated, regional, non-profit network of more than 20,000
employees providing services at 15 campuses and 350+ outpatient
sites. With annual net revenue of $3.5
billion, the Network's service area includes 11 counties in
Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Dedicated to advancing medical
education, St. Luke's is the preeminent teaching hospital in
central-eastern Pennsylvania.
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SOURCE St. Luke’s University Health Network, Inc.