Health Secretary Matt Hancock discovers he is at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer after taking DNA test that could revolutionise NHS treatment

• Matt Hancock will reveal results in a speech at the Royal Society on Wednesday 
• He is expected to say: ‘My risk of prostate cancer by age 75 is almost 15%’ 
• Mr Hancock will highlight the need for more ‘genomic counsellors’ on the NHS

• e-mail

View
comments

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has discovered he is at higher risk of getting prostate cancer after taking a DNA test to determine the likelihood of developing diseases

The Health Secretary has discovered he is at higher risk of getting prostate cancer after taking a DNA test to determine the likelihood of developing diseases.

Matt Hancock will reveal the results in a speech at the Royal Society on Wednesday, raising ethical questions over genomic medicine.

He will call for a national debate to tackle some of the biggest issues facing DNA testing to allow patients to benefit from the technology as soon as possible.

Mr Hancock is expected to say: ‘I recently underwent a predictive genomic test to better understand this technology and the ethical issues it presents.

‘(The test) gives a sophisticated assessment of a person’s likelihood to develop certain diseases based on their DNA.

‘I have to admit, I was pretty nervous about getting the results.

‘The good news is I’m pretty healthy – below average for most of the 16 diseases (I was tested for). I probably have my grandmother, who lived to a 103, to thank for that.

‘But it wasn’t all good news. I’m at higher risk of prostate cancer. My risk of prostate cancer by age 75 is almost 15%.’

Mr Hancock will say he was ‘surprised and concerned’ by the results but felt ‘hugely relieved’ when he realised that dying from the disease is ‘highly preventable’ if caught at an early stage and with regular checks.

‘As a result, I’ve booked an appointment with my NHS GP to discuss the correct course of action,’ he will tell delegates.

‘I’m going to be on alert as I get older. And I’m going to make certain I don’t miss any screening appointments in the future.

‘I would never have found this out if it hadn’t been for the genomic test.

‘Tragically, so many men don’t find out they have it, until it’s too late. The truth is this test may have saved my life.’

• ‘Thank God I’m alive’: Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star Paddy… Triple cancer survivor, 62, to cycle 7,500 miles for charity…

Share this article

The Health Secretary will raise ethical issues during his speech, including whether he has a moral obligation to tell his siblings the results of his test.

He is expected to add: ‘We must get predictive testing into the NHS as soon as we possibly can.

‘I see it as a game-changer for cancer screening in the NHS and I’m determined that we harness this technology to save lives. ‘

Mr Hancock will highlight the need for the NHS to recruit more ‘genomic counsellors’ and train doctors and nurses so they can explain the technology and its impact to patients as part of the National Genomics Healthcare Strategy.

He will also praise the ‘huge achievement’ of the 100,000 Genomes Project, in which tens of thousands of genetic blueprints have been sequenced from NHS patients with cancers and rare diseases since its launch in 2012.

Mr Hancock will highlight the need for the NHS to recruit more ‘genomic counsellors’ and praise the ‘huge achievement’ of the 100,000 Genomes Project, in which tens of thousands of genetic blueprints have been sequenced from NHS patients with cancers and rare diseases since its launch in 2012

The Government has said it wants to sequence five million genomes over the next five years as part of the long-term plan for the NHS.

It is hoped genomics can diagnose diseases more accurately and at an earlier stage, reduce the number of invasive procedures and allow doctors to provide tailored treatment.

Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, medical director of the British Heart Foundation, said: ‘Genomic medicine is set to revolutionise the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of many of the UK’s most devastating diseases.

‘Identifying someone’s genetic risk could lead to more personalised treatments that might stop a disease ever developing.’

But he added: ‘Before such genetic tests are widely rolled out, however, we need more research and real-world evidence that they will indeed bring the benefit they promise, that they are acceptable to patients and there are robust safeguards against the use of such information for non-medical purposes.’

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, said: ‘Genetic testing should never be taken lightly – we are talking about sensitive patient data, with potentially serious medical and ethical implications for the patient and all their genetic relatives.

‘People really need to consider these implications carefully before they decide to take a genetic test.’ 

Source: Read Full Article