People in England with Jewish ancestry to be offered test to detect cancer risk

NHS test would detect a genetic fault that is more common among those with Jewish heritage, leading to a higher risk of cancer

Tens of thousands of people in England with Jewish ancestry, who have a higher risk of developing certain cancers, are to be offered a genetic test on the NHS.

People with Jewish ancestry are about six times more likely to carry faults in their BRCA genes than the general population. The new scheme forms part of a national drive by health leaders to identify more people with a higher risk of cancer, in an effort to spot and treat the disease earlier.

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