Open Access News Cancer Research NHS genetic testing programme could potentially offer lifesaving cancer prevention January 21, 2025 image: ©Chinnapong | iStock A new NHS genetic testing programme has identified hundreds of people with Jewish ancestry at increased risk of cancer Identifying this early could offer meaningful opportunities for early detection and prevention care. The BRCA Testing Programme The NHS Jewish BRCA Testing Programme, launched in January 2023, aims to reduce the impact of hereditary cancers by providing people with the knowledge and support they need to make informed health decisions. Since the programme’s launch, more than 25,000 free saliva test kits have been requested and delivered to individuals across England.
These tests are designed for people aged 18 and over with at least one Jewish grandparent, regardless of their religious practices. The test is easy and non-invasive and only requires a saliva sample, which is then sent to a laboratory for analysis. So far, around 11,000 tests have been processed, with 235 people (approximately 2%) testing positive for a BRCA gene mutation.
The BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations significantly increase the risk of breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancers. Research shows that people with Jewish ancestry, particularly those of Ashkenazi and Sephardi descent, are more likely to carry these genetic mutations than the general population. For instance, one in 40 Ashkenazi Jews and one in 140 Sephardi Jews.
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