Family History of Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Service

With 1 in 7 women in the UK being diagnosed with breast cancer throughout their lifetime, breast cancer accounts for 15% of all cancers, making it the most common cancer in the country. Early diagnosis has been shown to improve survival rates, so consulting with a specialist, especially if you have a family history of breast cancer, is advised. 

At Midland Health, we offer a bespoke, end-to-end breast cancer risk assessment service including careful selection, pre-counselling, genetic testing, post-counselling and appropriate risk reduction. As part of our service, you will have access to:

• Personalised breast cancer risk assessment
• Family history of breast cancer 
• Genetic testing (BRCA1 and BRCA2)
• Genetic counselling  
• Assessment of mammographic density (for women aged 40+)
• Breast cancer risk reduction advice 

Available at our state-of-the-art private clinic in Birmingham, the breast cancer risk assessment service can be booked on short notice and without the need for a referral from your NHS GP. 

To book your appointment with a breast cancer specialist, simply get in touch with the Midland Health team on 0121 769 0999 or hello@midlandhealth.co.uk today.

Who Is The Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Suitable For?

Our family history of breast cancer risk assessment service is designed to assess your level of risk of breast cancer if you have been diagnosed with cancer or if you haven’t had a cancer diagnosis but match one of the following criteria:

• You have one 1st-degree female relative diagnosed with breast cancer at younger than 40 years
• You have one 1st-degree male relative diagnosed with breast cancer at any age
• You have one 1st-degree relative with bilateral breast cancer where the first primary was diagnosed at younger than age 50 years
• You have two 1st-degree relatives, or one 1st degree + one 2nd-degree relative, diagnosed with breast cancer at any age
• You have one 1st-degree or 2nd-degree relative diagnosed with breast cancer at any age + one 1st-degree or 2nd-degree relative diagnosed with ovarian cancer at any age (where one of these relatives is a first-degree relative)
• You have three 1st-degree or 2nd-degree relatives diagnosed with breast cancer at any age

If you are concerned about your health and think you might be at risk of developing breast cancer, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Midland Health team to book an appointment with an expert in the field. 

What To Expect From Your Appointment

Once you have booked your family history of breast cancer risk assessment, you will be given an appointment at our private clinic in Edgbaston Village. There you will be welcomed by the friendly Midland Health team and you will be seen by Mr Naren Basu - a breast cancer specialist and oncoplastic surgeon with more than 550 breast cancer surgeries under his belt. 

To assess your family history of breast cancer, you will be asked questions about any known relatives who have had cancer and their relationship to you (i.e. mother, father, brother, sister, grandparents, etc). You will also be asked to provide details about the age when they were diagnosed, their gender and if they have passed away - the age at which they died.

Other things to discuss will include your ethnic background, whether anyone in your family has had multiple cancer diagnoses, as well as whether you have been diagnosed with cancer. 

Based on the information you have provided during the family history of breast cancer risk assessment, our specialists will tell you whether you are at general (average), moderate or high risk of developing breast cancer. Remember, being identified as “high risk” doesn’t mean you will definitely have cancer, only that you are more likely than the average person to do so.

Our consulting breast cancer specialist will take the time to discuss your family history and your level of risk with you so you fully understand the meaning of your assessment. We will also offer advice on lifestyle changes you can make as part of cancer risk prevention, as well as develop a personalised treatment plan if needed.  

Genetic Testing (BRCA1 and BRCA2)

If during your family history of breast cancer risk assessment you have been identified as being likely to have inherited a harmful variant, we can provide the appropriate BRCA1 (BReast CAncer gene 1) and BRCA2 (BReast CAncer gene 2) genetic testing and counselling.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 are protein-producing genes that normally serve to help repair damaged DNA. If you inherit a harmful variant of these genes from either one of your parents, you might be exposed to a higher risk of developing breast cancer or ovarian cancer. 

SNP Test

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) are single changes in the DNA (building blocks). We have identified a number of these SNPs that may be associated with a small change in the risk of developing breast cancer. The combinations of changes to a number of SNPs (Polygenic Risk Score) can have a significant bearing on breast cancer risk. 

Once we know more about you and your family history of breast cancer, we can consider whether SNP testing is an appropriate breast cancer risk assessment method for you.

Genetic Counselling and and Psychological Support

If during your risk assessment you’re identified to be at high risk of developing breast cancer, due to patterns uncovered in your family history of breast cancer or other factors, Midland Health’s genetic counselling service will help you process the information and overcome the emotional impact of these findings.

Speaking about breast cancer risks can be an overwhelming experience, so we ensure you get the right support by a trained genetic counsellors to help you deal with any anxiety or distress that this may cause you and your family. We can also offer access to a specialist medical geneticist for further advice, as well.