Inherited Cancer Risk Test

Inherited cancer gene testing analyses your DNA to identify variants in specific genes that are associated with a significantly higher lifetime risk of developing certain cancers. It is different from cancer screening tests such as a multi-cancer early detection blood test, which look for signs that cancer may already be present. Genetic testing tells you about your inherited risk before any cancer develops, allowing you to make informed decisions about surveillance, prevention, and lifestyle. The two types of testing are complementary rather than alternatives to one another.

The Association of British Insurers and the British Medical Association have agreed on a set of questions that insurers can ask your GP when you apply for life insurance. Your GP will be asked about any medical condition you have suffered in the past or are currently experiencing that may reduce your life expectancy. They are also allowed to ask about your family history. They are not allowed to ask or request the results of any predictive genetic testing. The only exception in the UK applies if you are applying for life insurance over £500,000 and you have previously taken a predictive genetic test for Huntington’s Disease. Only in this circumstance do you need to disclose the result if asked. This exception does not apply to any of the genes tested in this panel. If you have a strong family history of breast cancer and your result is negative, it may be in your interest to disclose this voluntarily. You are never obliged to, but some people choose to. You can read more about the ABI code on the Association of British Insurers website.

A positive result means that a pathogenic variant has been identified in one of the 35 genes tested. Your GP will arrange a results consultation to explain what this means for your specific cancer risk, which types of cancer are associated with the variant found, and what the recommended options are. These may include enhanced surveillance such as annual MRI for high-risk BRCA carriers, medication options such as risk-reducing chemoprevention, or surgical risk reduction, depending on the gene and your individual circumstances. Our GPs can guide you into the appropriate NHS or private clinical pathway and will provide letters for any first-degree relatives who may wish to consider testing.

A negative result means that no pathogenic variant was detected in the 36 genes included in this panel. This is a clinically meaningful and, for most people, reassuring finding. It significantly reduces the likelihood that you carry a high-risk inherited variant in these specific genes. It does not eliminate all genetic cancer risk, since there are genes beyond this panel and non-genetic factors that also influence cancer risk. Your GP will discuss what appropriate ongoing cancer surveillance looks like for you based on your personal and family history.

We report only class 4 (likely pathogenic) and class 5 (pathogenic) variants, using the classification framework set by the American College of Medical Genetics. These are the variants with established clinical significance that are relevant to your health and actionable. Variants of uncertain significance are not reported, as they do not currently meet the threshold for clinical action and including them would not help you make meaningful decisions about your health.

Results are returned by the laboratory in approximately four weeks from sample receipt. For the at-home test, please allow additional time for kit delivery to you and return postage. We will contact you to schedule your results consultation as soon as your results arrive with us. The time from booking to receiving your results will typically be between five and six weeks for the at-home option and approximately four to five weeks for the in-clinic option.

Not necessarily. A negative result means that you have not inherited the specific variant being looked for in the genes on this panel. However, if a blood relative has already tested positive for a variant, that result is specific to them and their branch of the family. A negative result in one family member does not tell you whether other relatives carry the same variant. If a variant has been identified elsewhere in your family, targeted testing for that specific variant may be more appropriate than this full 35-gene panel. Your GP can advise on the best approach based on your family history.

We take the security of your genetic information extremely seriously. We will never sell or share your medical information or data. Your results are shared securely through our patient portal. The specialist laboratories we work with operate under strict rules governing the privacy of sensitive genetic data. You will be asked to consent to their receiving your sample and data before testing begins. You may choose to opt out of any anonymised research use of your data.