Her family kept getting cancer. At 33, a saliva test explained why.

Michelle York, 43, was diagnosed with Lynch syndrome a decade ago. Lynch syndrome increases the risk of developing various cancers, especially colorectal cancer. York's family history of multiple cancers on her mother's side led to her being tested positive for Lynch syndrome, an underdiagnosed condition that often goes unnoticed. She tested positive along with her siblings, mother, and other family members on her mother's side.

Lynch syndrome makes certain cancers more likely, including colorectal, uterine, stomach, ovarian, and pancreatic cancers. With colorectal cancer, the lifetime risk can be as high as 80%. York's mother, a nurse, decided to get tested after learning about Lynch syndrome through her work. Both York and her mother tested positive, and so did their siblings and other family members on her mother's side.

The family now gets annual screenings to catch any potential cancers early. While the process was initially anxiety-inducing, York feels reassured knowing she's lowering her risk of developing late-stage cancer. New studies also suggest her Lynch variant might be linked to an elevated risk of breast cancer, leading to annual skin cancer screenings and mammograms.

York gets annual colonoscopies due to her heightened risk of colorectal cancer. She also sees a gynecologist-oncologist for her complex ovarian cysts and gets them reexamined every three months. York's Lynch diagnosis has made it easier to get these screenings covered by her insurance, which can be costly without a family history of the specific cancer.