By Aurelia FosterHealth reporter
Getty ImagesA sizable number of people with Jewish heritage will be given the opportunity to undergo genetic tests for identifying if they have an elevated risk of developing certain types of cancers. Individuals with Jewish heritage are notably more likely to have inherited defective BRCA genes than the general population. Those born with impaired BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are at a higher risk of developing breast, ovarian, prostate or pancreatic cancer. The NHS England screening programme is part of an effort to identify cancer at an early stage.Women with defective BRCA genes have been found to have up to a 72% chance of developing breast cancer and a 44% chance of developing ovarian cancer, compared to 11.5% and 1.5% respectively for the general population. Individuals discovered to have defective BRCA genes, known as being BRCA positive, will have early access to cancer detection services such as mammograms or MRI scans. They may also be offered preventive surgery or medication, and advised to make lifestyle changes to reduce the risks.Home testingAnyone over the age of 18 with at least one Jewish grandparent is eligible for screening under the NHS Jewish BRCA Testing Programme. Previously, the criteria for testing were more stringent, resulting in fewer individuals qualifying for the programme. The tests can be ordered online and completed at home by providing a saliva sample and sending it to a laboratory.Everyone carries BRCA genes, which repair DNA damage and typically help guard against cancer. However, it is estimated that about one in every 400 people has a fault in one of those genes, with Jewish individuals being six times more likely to be affected. There is a 50% chance that someone with a defective BRCA gene will pass it on to their children.However, having an altered BRCA gene does not guarantee that a person will develop cancer. Peter Johnson, national clinical director for cancer at NHS England, said the testing programme had “the potential to save lives”.”We know it can be daunting finding out whether or not you have an altered BRCA gene, and some people may feel they’d rather not know – but finding out early means people can get the support they need from the NHS,” Mr Johnson said. ‘Not worth the risk’
Jonathan KayeKatie Kaye, a Jewish mother-of-two who is BRCA positive, expressed her excitement about the expansion of screening, highlighting the previous challenges in accessing it. Ms Kaye, from Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, said she was tested after her mother died of breast cancer at the age of 35.”I decided it was the best option. That way I could decide what I wanted to do,” she said”I have young kids, and the thought of not being around for them is not an option.”Ms Kaye plans to have a preventive double mastectomy this summer, followed by surgery to remove her ovaries next year.”It will be nice not to have it hanging over me,” she said.She said she could understand why people might avoid being tested, but added, “it’s silly to bury your head in the sand – it’s not worth the risk”.During a pilot phase of the programme, 5,000 people of with Jewish ancestry came forward for testing, 80 of whom were found to have defective BRCA genes. The goal of the national rollout is to test 30,000 people over the next two years.Nicole Gordon, chief executive officer of the charity Jnetics – who has worked with the NHS on the rollout – described the programme as “a huge opportunity to gain the knowledge that will help mitigate against the impact of hereditary cancer, and ultimately save lives”.”We want to ensure that this programme reaches as many people as possible,” said Lisa Steele, chief executive of Chai Cancer Care, who also worked alongside the NHS on the testing programme.Cancer Research UK estimates 5-10% of all diagnosed cancers are linked to an inherited faulty gene, but that figure is not specific to BRCA genes.NHS England said it “continues to roll out innovations to catch cancers early – when treatments are more likely to be successful”.
