DHAKA: Younger bowel cancer patients should be offered a genetic test to screen for a rare condition linked to a higher risk of further cancers, say researchers.

Genetic screening of tumours would save lives and would be cost-effective for the NHS, a new study has confirmed.

Lynch syndrome raises the risk of developing cancer, particularly bowel cancer and womb and ovarian cancers.

Teenager Stephen Sutton, who raised millions of pounds for cancer research, had a family history of the syndrome, reports BBC.

"This is a way of improving the health of people with Lynch syndrome who currently don't know they have it," said Dr Tristan Snowsill of the Medical School - University of Exeter, reports BBC.

Co-researcher Dr Ian Frayling of Cardiff University's Institute of Medical Genetics added: "Now the cost of genetic testing is coming down there is a good argument for younger bowel cancer patients to be screened. It will save lives and save money for the NHS."

Lynch syndrome accounts for around one in 12 cases of bowel cancer in people aged under 50. Around a third of people with the disease will go on to develop bowel cancer by the time they are 70, if no action is taken.

Close relatives have a 50% chance of Lynch syndrome but can be offered risk-reducing measures, such as regular colonoscopies, if they are identified early.

BDST: 1120 HRS, OCT 01, 2014