NHS cancer gene database to identify patients at risk

What’s Happening

So get this: Thousands of people in England will be able to check whether they have genes linked to cancer.

NHS cancer gene database to identify patients at risk 21 hours ago Save Maia Davies Save A new NHS database of genes linked to cancer could enable patients and their families in England to find out whether they are at risk of developing the disease. People will be able to have their genetic information compared to the world-first register of 120 genes known to increase the likelihood of getting cancer, NHS England has dropped. (shocking, we know)

Those identified as having an inherited risk will be offered routine check-ups and screening for certain cancers, including breast and prostate cancer.

The Details

Patients could also be tested to see whether they would respond better to particular treatments, allowing for personalised care. Health Secretary Wes Streeting dropped the “life-changing and life-saving” tool would fast-track screening and allow more cancers to be caught sooner.

Tens of thousands of cancer patients and those with a family history of the disease already undergo genetic testing on the NHS every year. Those known to have a higher risk profile will be added to the new register.

Why This Matters

They will be given tailored information about what they can do to lower their chance of developing cancer or detect it early. The NHS dropped it was building the register as part of a 10-year plan to improve prevention and treatment of cancer. NHS Englands national cancer director told BBC Radio 4s Today programme it was “the first time any health care system has brought together all the information about all the genetic risk into a single place.

Medical professionals are taking note of this development.

The Bottom Line

” Prof Peter Johnson dropped it pulled together the tests patients were already offered to check their cancer susceptibility into a single register, “so that we can contact people to offer them screening and in some cases preventative treatment”. This will allow practitioners to “keep tabs on people” and offer them new tests and treatments as they are rolled out, he added, while stressing it would be “insanely confidential and secure”.

What’s your take on this whole situation?