Genetic test could help those at risk of breast cancer
The new test would be able to give women more options in terms of treatment for the disease.
New genetic test could help predict how a woman will likely develop breast cancer.
It could soon be made available to those high at risk of the most common form of cancer, the Daily Mail reported.
To reduce their risk of developing the disease, many women with high-risk breast cancer genes choose to have breast removal surgery.
"When they find that they have the BRCA1/2 gene many women fear that they have to take action immediately, " Becky Measures, who had a mastectomy, told the Daily Mail. Adding, "The new test will give women more options and help them to make a more informed decision."
Researchers believe the blood or saliva test could help reduce the number of women needing a mastectomy by a third - 50% to 36%. This is because it can help narrow down who is more at risk.
This will allow doctors and patients to be better informed to make the right decision in terms of surgery.
A team in Manchester developed the test that looks at 18 genetic variations known to affect a person's chance of developing the disease. Their creation has earned praise from many cancer charities for developing a "more tailored method' of cancer screening," the report revealed.