The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published new guidance, ‘Ovarian cancer: identifying and managing familial and genetic risk’. The guideline is the product of painstaking work by Professor Ranjit Manchanda, Professor of Gynaecological Oncology, and an expert committee including Dr Adam Brentnall, Senior Lecturer in Biostatistics - both from the Wolfson Institute of Population Health.
Although a NICE guideline for high-risk breast cancer has been available for many years, this is the first time a guideline has been published for familial ovarian cancer. The guideline covers genetic/ pathogenic variant and ovarian cancer risk assessment, genetic counselling and testing, surveillance, surgical prevention, preventive medications, information and support, and service organisation.
Around 340,000 - 440,000 women in the UK carry one of the pathogenic variants. The aim of the guideline is to raise awareness, increase the availability of genetic testing, and allow individuals to take preventive measures, such as surgery, which will lead to fewer people developing ovarian cancer.
Professor Manchanda said: “This guideline fulfils a huge unmet need, and will be extremely helpful and important for patients, health professionals, commissioners and providers. This has been a huge effort over two and a half years, and I am grateful to the entire committee, the team at NICE and all stakeholders who have contributed.”
The full guide can be viewed on the NICE website, or visit the Wolfson Institute of Population Health website for more details.
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