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Written question asked by Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Social Democratic & Labour Party) on Tuesday, 24 March 2015, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 26 March 2015. It was answered by Jane Ellison (Conservative) on Thursday, 26 March 2015 on behalf of the Department of Health.


Cancer: Screening

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of the efficacy of using BRCA gene testing techniques to diagnose certain types of cancers.

Answer

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) clinical guideline on familial breast cancer, published in June 2013, recommends that women with breast or ovarian cancer should be offered genetic testing if their combined BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carrier possibility is 10% or more.

NICE clinical guidelines represent best practice and we expect National Health Service organisations in England to take them fully into account in designing services to meet the needs of their local populations.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
228879
Session
2014-15
Subjects
Cancer Diagnosis Genetics Screening
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk