Genetic medicine unit now seeing 800 new cases a year in bid to prevent inherited cancers

6:00am Thursday 16th May 2013 in News By Barry Nelson, Health Editor

A GENETIC medicine expert has revealed that a regional breast and ovarian cancer prevention unit set up nearly a decade ago is now seeing 800 new referrals a year.

Dr Paul Brennan, director of the Northern Genetic Service, said referrals of women who have an increased risk of inherited breast or ovarian cancer had steadily increased since the service was established at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough in 2004.

"It was a trickle at first but we are now getting 800 new referrals a year of women with a family history of mainly breast, ovarian and colon cancer," said Dr Brennan, who also works at the International Centre for Life in Newcastle.

Following the admission by actress Angelina Jolie that she has had a double mastectomy to reduce her chances of breast cancer, Dr Brennan said he now expected an increase in the number of North-East women with a family history of breast and ovarian cancer being referred to the Northern Genetic Service.

"When we started the cancer family history service on Teesside in 2004 we didnt know how many patients would be referred. I would have thought that after ten years we would have seen a decline but they are still coming in," he added.

"With around 500 referrals for a family history of breast cancer, this suggests that there are still many families out there."

Using the latest genetic science, specialists can track down family members who are at risk from inherited forms of cancer.

In the most extreme cases, for example where a woman may have a 50 per cent chance of inheriting breast cancer, patients may be advised to have their breasts removed to prevent cancer.

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Genetic medicine unit now seeing 800 new cases a year in bid to prevent inherited cancers