Awareness campaigns often focus on recognizing symptoms or encouraging regular screenings, but Uterine Cancer Awareness Month also draws attention to a question many families never think to ask: could cancer risk already be written into their family history? For some people, the answer is yes.
Inherited conditions such as Lynch syndrome significantly increase the lifetime risk of several cancers, including colorectal, ovarian, and uterine cancer. The condition is commonly associated with mutations in DNA repair genes, including the MSH2 gene mutation, and it can pass from one generation to the next without anyone realizing it. In many families, the pattern only becomes clear after multiple relatives have already received a cancer diagnosis.
That is why genetic testing has become an increasingly important part of conversations around cancer prevention and early detection.
Jackie Wenzel’s story offers a clear example of how understanding family history can influence healthcare decisions.
Wenzel was diagnosed with uterine cancer at just 30 years old, but she already knew Lynch syndrome existed in her family. Even so, deciding to pursue genetic testing was not easy. Like many people, she was uncertain whether she wanted to know if she carried a mutation that increased her risk of developing cancer.
When she eventually underwent testing, the results confirmed that she carried the MSH2 mutation. Rather than seeing that information as a prediction of what would happen, Wenzel has described it as something that allowed her to be more informed and proactive about her health.
That perspective became especially important when she began dealing with prolonged menstrual cycles, heavy bleeding, and debilitating fatigue. Initial evaluations suggested hormone-related issues, but because she understood that her inherited risk was different from that of the average patient, she continued pursuing additional medical evaluations until it was eventually revealed that she had uterine cancer.
While knowing about her genetic risk did not prevent the disease, it gave her the confidence to continue seeking answers and not ignore her symptoms. The diagnosis also came early enough to give her options, allowing her to work with her physicians to give birth to two children before needing to undergo a radical hysterectomy. She is currently cancer-free.
Family medical history is often treated as background information during routine doctor visits, but for conditions like Lynch syndrome, it can play a much larger role. Understanding inherited risk can influence how often someone is screened, how quickly unusual symptoms are investigated, and how patients advocate for themselves when something doesn’t feel right.
The challenge is that many people either do not know their family history or are unsure whether genetic testing is something they should consider. Closing that gap has become a central focus for jscreen, which has worked to expand access to hereditary cancer screening. Through at-home testing programs combined with licensed genetic counseling, the nonprofit aims to make it easier for individuals and families to better understand their inherited risks and discuss appropriate next steps with their healthcare providers.
“Family history is one of the most powerful tools we have, but only if people know how to use it,” said Karen Grinzaid, Chief Clinical Officer and Founding Executive Director of jscreen. “Stories like Jackie’s show what happens when someone understands their risk and refuses to ignore what their body is telling them.”
The goal is not to convince everyone that they need genetic testing. Rather, it is to make sure that people with a significant family history of cancer have access to information that could help guide future healthcare decisions.
Uterine Cancer Awareness Month ultimately serves as a reminder that prevention is not always about changing the future. Sometimes it is about understanding the risks that already exist and making sure those risks are not overlooked. For families affected by hereditary conditions like Lynch syndrome, that knowledge can become one of the most valuable tools they have.
