Our Hereditary Cancer Prevention Strategy
Taking action on BRCA saves lives.
At Ovarian Cancer Action we’ve led the fight since 2013, and in 2015 we launched our BRCA Cancer Prevention Strategy.
In 2017, our latest policy paper, Acting on BRCA: Breaking down barriers to save lives, revealed that the NHS is still missing the opportunity to use BRCA testing as an effective cancer prevention strategy, and women are dying as a result. Our report highlights seven areas where the Government must take action, from making sure those who are eligible are offered testing, to providing every patient with good quality information to help them make life-changing decisions. We’ve made recommendations in each of these areas to improve services and fulfil BRCA testing’s potential as a cancer prevention tool.
What do we want?
BRCA1/2 gene faults were discovered 21 years ago. The NHS is now making headway in offering BRCA1/2 gene testing to women newly diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and their family members.
However, over the next few years there will be an increasing number of second, third and fourth generation families carrying a mutation, many of whom may not know their family has been affected.
We want all families with a BRCA1/2 gene mutation to have a clear and easy to use care pathway.
This should include not only testing, but relevant advice and guidance. We want the NHS to maximise cancer prevention opportunities.
We want BRCA affected families to have thorough information, advice and guidance on cancer risk reduction and prevention so that they can be empowered to make the best decision for themselves.
- The right to know/not know BRCA status
- The impact of other family members’ decision to know, or not
- The age to tell/test children
- Risk of cancer relating to individuals’ BRCA status and age
- Different options for preventative surgery and the impact on risk
- Effectiveness of ongoing cancer monitoring
- Risk/benefits of contraceptive pill
- Options for IVF and embryo screening
We want the NHS to demonstrate its commitment to delivering on its ambitions for cancer prevention.
This means active monitoring of the take up of BRCA1/2 testing across the country, via an audit of Genetics Centres, and quickly identifying and remedying any barriers to BRCA1/2 testing. Data on uptake will also help the NHS to identify demand and plan for the future.
What will we do?
- We will develop and provide patient guide materials to help family members’ access existing genetic services and cancer prevention options.
- We will lobby the government, and the devolved assemblies and parliaments, to deliver a life-saving cancer prevention strategy across the UK as a whole.
- We will monitor international advice and protocols through our extensive global connections from supporting international forums.
- We will monitor the roll out of the current NHS England commissioning policy to ensure consistent and high quality services are available to all BRCA families in England.
- We will help families understand their BRCA risk through our online risk tool.
Are you an ovarian cancer patient who has had trouble accessing BRCA testing? We want hear your story! Please email info@ovarian.org.uk
