AROUND 60,000 Brits could be at higher risk of cancer but not realise it, a charity has today warned.
The thousands concerned are those who have previously been tested for the BRCA genetic fault and reassured their results were negative.
AlamyPeople who have previously been told they do not have cancer risk factors may be eligible for testing again[/caption]
Coleen Nolan, Loose Women, was told there was no point her having genetic testing after her sisters got a negative BRAC result. All three have a cancer diagnosis, and Coleen was not aware there were other comprehensive genetic tests availableRex
The BRCA genes, made famous by Angelina Jolie, can increase a person’s risk of breast, ovarian and prostate cancer if they are faulty.
Before 2018, people with a family history of breast cancer that met the criteria for referral through NICE Guidelines were tested for BRCA1 and 2, plus TP53.
But the charity, National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline, is urging people who were told they were negative for faulty BRCA genes to see their GP.
Charity founder Wendy Watson MBE, tells The Sun in recent years scientists have detected more mutant genes that could increase a person’s risk of hereditary cancer.
Now, thanks to those scientific advances, the NHS can screen for seven different ‘cancer-causing’ genes.
But, given the NHS is not inviting those previously told they were negative for BRCA 1 and 2, for another test, the charity warns they could still be at risk without realising.
Those at risk include Loose Women star Coleen Nolan, and around 60,000 others with a family history of the disease, who could be eligible for new tests to check their cancer risk.
Wendy says: “Up to 60,000 people in the UK, previously diagnosed with no BRCA fault could be eligible on the NHS for a free panel test.
“In recent years many more mutant genes have been identified which confer differing increased risks.
“These genes have now been included in a panel test. The challenge now is to find a way to reach all the people eligible to be retested.”
The statistics were estimated by Professor Gareth Evans, a consultant geneticist based at Manchester University NHS trust.
Coleen: Not offered tests
Coleen Nolan, 58, whose family has been haunted by cancer, said she was not aware of the new test.
The TV presenter’s skin cancer diagnosis in July 2023 made her the fourth sister in her family to have the disease, leaving her “sick of cancer”.
Anne, Linda and Bernie were diagnosed with cancer in 2000, 2006 and 2010.
Bernie died in 2013, and last year Linda revealed her cancer had spread to the brain, while Anne is in remission.
Coleen told The Sun: “Talking to Wendy and Becky on the podcast [Breast of Friends] alerted me that new genes had been discovered and that our family were eligible for a panel test.
“I had no idea! Once I’ve finished my new lone tour Naked I’m going to get tested.”
Coleen told Wendy, 68, and her daughter, Becky Measures, 42 that she had tried to get a BRAC1 and 2 test, but it was considered pointless after her sisters got a negative result.
She added: “They said ‘it will be a rogue gene somewhere’, because it can’t just be chance that three sisters from the same family have got it so quickly.
“But I wasn’t tested for anything else.”
One in 200 people have a gene mutation so If somebody in your family had prostate cancer or breast cancer at a young age you might be at risk.
Becky Measures
Some forms of cancer, mainly breast, ovarian, colorectal and prostate cancer, can be strongly influenced by genes and can run in families.
Out of every 100 women who have a BRCA1 gene mutation, for example, 65 to 85 will develop breast cancer in their lifetime and 40 to 63 will develop ovarian cancer.
The NHS says to speak to a GP if cancer runs in your family and you’re worried you’re at greater risk.
Commenting on the statistic, an NHS spokesperson said: “The NHS routinely screens and tests patients at high-risk of breast and ovarian cancer, due to having a significant family history.
“In the last year, we tested around 10,000 patients for hereditary breast and ovarian cancers through our world-leading Genomic Medicine Service.
“As ever, we would encourage anyone worried about symptoms which may be cancer to contact their GP practice so that they can get checked – testing, prevention and early treatment of cancer saves lives.”
It said patients can be offered a repeat genomic testing if there is a clinical reason for doing so and this would be discussed with a patient’s healthcare professional.
Life’s mission
Wendy has dedicated her life to raising awareness of genetic testing for cancer.
The mum-of-one was the first ever person in the UK to undergo a preventative mastectomy 30 years ago after begging her GP to test her for a genetic risk – which came back positive.
Her daughter, Becky, was the youngest to have the op decades later, at the age of 24.
The pair recently discovered “the terrifying statistic that 97 per cent of people who carry a breast cancer gene don’t know”.
Becky says: “We are finding that there are lots of medical professionals making leaps and bounds in aiding prevention, but can’t get the word out. And that’s where we come in.
“Our mantra is ‘know your risk and don’t risk it’.
“One in 200 people have a gene mutation so If somebody in your family had prostate cancer or breast cancer at a young age you might be at risk.
“There are options if you test positive. To be screened frequently, drugs such as tamoxifen which reduces risk by up to 50 per cent and surgery of which there is now an absolute multitude of options.”