Screening all women over 30 for cancer could lead to 64,000 fewer breast cancers, study reveals
SCREENING all women for genetic mutations could prevent thousands of cases of ovarian and breast cancer – and is cost effective, a study found.
Only those with a family history of the disease are currently checked for cancer-causing errors in their BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.
Either mutation makes women up to 22-times more likely to develop ovarian cancer and 6-times more likely to develop breast cancer over their lifetime.
Now researchers say screening all women aged over 30 could result in 17,000 fewer ovarian cancers and 64,000 fewer breast cancers.
This is because those found to have the mutation can lower their overall risk by adopting healthier lifestyles, such as quitting booze and cigarettes.
They could also eat a better diet, do more exercise and have a preventative mastectomy and hysterectomy, like actress Angelina Jolie.
Dr Ranjit Manchanda, who worked on the study at Queen Mary University, London, said recent advances in genomic medicine had made universal screening possible.
He added: “Our findings support the concept of broadening genetic testing for breast and ovarian cancer genes across the entire population, beyond just the current criteria-based approach.
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“This could prevent thousands more breast and ovarian cancers than any current strategy, saving many lives.”
Economist Dr Rosa Legood, who worked on the study at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said screening all women over 30 is the “most cost-effective strategy”.
Katherine Taylor, from Ovarian Cancer Action, said: “Ovarian cancer has very poor survival rates and a woman dies every two hours.
“We welcome any progress that increases opportunities to prevent the disease.”
The findings are published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.