NHS guidelines on familial breast cancer care:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Breast cancer care in England and Wales is subject to new guidelines on the provision of mammography, genetic testing and risk-reducing surgery in cases of so-called "familial" risk. Mammography should be performed subject to clearly advising the patient on the implications of early detection, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the National Collaborating Centre for Primary Care (NCCPC) recommend. They also urge the NHS to recognise that genetic testing and risk-reducing surgery are appropriate in only a small proportion of women from high-risk families. The guidance also highlights the need for greater public awareness of risk, notably that the great majority of women with a family history do not fall into a high-risk category.