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Breast Cancer: Genetics

Asked by Clive JonesLiberal DemocratDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 12 November 2024UIN 12590

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to ensure that people diagnosed with (a) triple negative breast cancer and (b) the BRCA gene mutation are offered genetic counselling.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne

Genomic testing in the National Health Service in England is provided through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service and delivered by a national genomic testing network of seven NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs. Individuals should discuss with their healthcare professional whether genomic testing is appropriate for them. Following review, the healthcare professional will then make a decision whether to refer the individual either directly or via an NHS Clinical Genomics Service (CGS), or other relevant clinical speciality for genomic testing. The 17 NHS CGSs, commissioned by NHS England, deliver a comprehensive clinical genomic and counselling service that directs the diagnosis, risk assessment, and lifelong clinical management of patients of all ages and their families who have, or are at risk of having, a rare genetic or genomic condition.

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