More women to be offered breast cancer test

More women are to be offered tests to find if they have a gene that puts them at greater risk of developing breast cancer, health secretary Alex Neil has said.

Angelina Jolie underwent a double mastectomy. Picture: AP

At present, women in Scotland can undergo genetic testing if doctors believe they have a 20 per cent chance of developing breast cancer.

But under new plans, those with a 10 per cent risk of the disease can be tested for a faulty BRCA gene.

Last night, Mr Neil urged anyone who was concerned their family history put them at risk of the disease to contact their doctor.

He said he hoped Hollywood star Angelina Jolie speaking out about her decision to have a preventive double mastectomy would spur women to seek medical advice.

Risk is usually determined by close family history, and takes into consideration factors including whether relatives were young when diagnosed with breast cancer; whether a relative had cancer in both breasts; if men in the family have had breast cancer; and if there is ovarian cancer in the family.

Mr Neil said it had been agreed in April to extend the testing in line with new guidelines south of the Border. He added that the extended testing would be “fully implemented” by the start of next month.

Mr Neil said: “Anyone who is concerned they may be at risk because of their family history should seek advice via their GP who can, if appropriate, refer on to the cancer genetics service.”

Ms Jolie, 37, revealed last week that she had surgery after being told by doctors she had an 87 per cent chance of developing breast cancer and a 50 per cent risk of ovarian cancer.

Mr Neil added: “The earlier cancer is detected, the easier it is to treat and the better the chance of a successful outcome, and we hope Ms Jolie’s story will encourage anyone with a family history of cancer to seek advice from the medical 
profession.”

Ms Jolie, whose mother had cancer and died at the age of 56, said she had revealed her decision to have a double mastectomy in the hope that other women could benefit from her experience.

The Tomb Raider actress wrote in the New York Times: “I want to encourage every woman, especially if you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, to seek out the information and medical experts who can help you through this aspect of your life, and to make your own informed choices.”

The decision to extend testing in Scotland was supported by the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer, whose Scotland director James Jopling said: “We welcome the fact Scotland is mirroring the draft recommendation to extend tests to more women at risk.

“It is worth remembering the gene fault is rare and is present in less than 1 per cent of the population, usually where there are multiple members of the family affected by breast or ovarian cancer at a younger age than would usually be expected.”