Cancer Risk Gene Tests Hit By Backlog; Hospital Has 600 Casesin Queue

By Nigel Gould

Ulster women who are concerned they might be carrying a gene putting them at a higher risk of breast cancer are waiting up to five years for the results of genetic testing, it can be revealed today.The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are linked to women being more likely to develop breast cancer, with testing available to families thought to face an increased risk.But the Belfast Telegraph can reveal that there is a current backlog of around 600 casesat the regional genetic testing centre at Belfast City Hospital – with a number of families waiting up to five years for results of special gene tests.On average, though, the waiting time is between two and three years, but this has been reduced over the past six months.Dr Shane McKee, consultant clinical geneticist at the centre, said the situation was far from ideal butimproving technology would make a big difference to significantly reducing the backlog over the next two years."There is a backlog of about 600 cases in the lab," he said. "There would be about 50 to 60 families every year involved in genetic testing. All of these people are in the testing process but it is a long process."Dr McKee said many of the families may not need follow-up investigation at the end of the day because they were not in the "at significant risk" category.And he said a recent audit had confirmed this.He said waiting in Northern Ireland was on a par with the rest of the UK – butthe situation regardingfirst appointments was better here than elsewhere."Waiting for a first appointment is well below six months," he said. And Professor Patrick Morrison, postgraduate tutor and consultant in clinical genetics, said the important message was that "all our patients are offered screening if appropriate while waiting for test results"."If the gene in the family is known then at risk patients have results within six weeks," he said.Both were speaking after a survey by charity CancerBACUP foundthat women were being made to wait years before getting the vital tests.Some women who find out they are more likely to get cancer because of family history and the fact that they carry the high risk genes may take extreme measures such as having both breasts removed to avoid the disease.CancerBACUP found that in two (11%) of the 19 regional genetics centres in England which responded to their survey, women who suspect they may carry the BRCA genes are waiting up to nine months for their first appointment.Almost a third (32%) had more than a six-month wait. But in five centres (26%), womenwaitedone ortwo years for their test results.This is despite the Government saying in 2003 that by 2006 diagnostic genetic test results should be available within eight weeks of the test taking place.In 2004 the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence saidall the BRCA genes should be tested.