Although every woman in the UK has – on average – an 11 percent risk of developing breast cancer over a lifetime, an individual woman’s risk may be higher or lower depending on known risk factors including their family history, lifestyle and genes.

An innovative genetic risk assessment test is available via BreastHealth UK as part of new type of breast health screening service.

BreastHealth Risk Assessment Service’. uses proven techniques to elicit life-style and family history factors combined with the deCODE BreastCancer™ (an innovative mouth swab test) and consultation with an experienced breast surgeon.

The BreastHealth Risk Assessment may be particularly beneficial for women who are concerned about their breast health, perhaps because they have lost a relative or friend to breast cancer.

BreastHealth UK also provides genetic counselling to all patients undertaking the genetic test for BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. This is carried out by a qualified genetic counsellor. This test looks for specific gene mutations which have a Mendelian inheritance pattern and confer a very high lifetime risk (50-80%) of developing breast cancer. These genes also confer increased risk for ovarian cancer and other cancer types. Patients will have counselling sessions both before and after the BRCA test.

In offering the BreastHealth Risk Assessment Service, BreastHealth UK aims to provide a scientific framework in which women can develop individual medical risk management strategies. It is hoped that ultimately this will lead to increased survival and quality of life in women who are at high-risk, whilst simultaneously minimising costs, unnecessary treatments, and anxiety in lower risk women.

For more information on the BHUK Risk Assessment Service, please click here.