Steve Brine has joined breast cancer campaign groups in warmly welcoming the announcement of draft NICE guidelines on how to provide the best possible service to people with a family history of breast cancer.
The Winchester & Chandler's Ford MP, who is co-chair of the All-Party Breast Cancer Group, is delighted that there are several key developments in the guidelines, including a recommendation that women at increased risk of breast cancer due to their family history are offered certain drugs, tamoxifen or raloxifene, to help prevent breast cancer occurring. This is the first time ever that drugs have been recommended for use in the UK to help prevent breast cancer in any group.
In addition, genetic testing will be offered to people at a lower level of likelihood that they actually carry a genetic fault, as compared to previous recommendations. This doesn't mean that everyone will be tested but it does mean this option will be available to many more people.
There are also new streamlined guidelines for screening women with a family history of breast cancer, and Breakthrough Breast Cancer, which works closely with the All-Party group, will be involved in helping to ensure these recommendations are considered for implementation by the NHS Breast Screening Programme.
For the first time, the recommendations cover people who have had a diagnosis of breast cancer, who also have a family history, not just those at risk of breast cancer who haven't had the disease, and also for the first time, the guidelines cover men as well as women which means their care should be better coordinated.
Steve Brine said: "This is a very exciting development and deserves all the attention it will receive. It's not a vaccine for breast cancer but the familial work of pinpointing where it will strike is increasingly important in the fight against the disease and this is hopefully a really powerful tool in the armoury going forward."
Chris Askew, of Breakthrough, said: "This draft guideline represents a historic step for the prevention of breast cancer - it is the first time drugs have ever been recommended for reducing breast cancer risk in the UK. This is exciting as, even though most women do not have a significant family history of the disease, it's crucial that those who do have an array of options to help them control their risk.
"An update to this guideline is long overdue and we're especially pleased it has been extended to include both women who have had breast cancer, and men, for the first time. Once finalised, this guideline will pose new challenges for the NHS as it will need to deliver on its recommendations, including a potentially large increase in genetic testing.
"Breakthrough Breast Cancer will strive to ensure the final recommendations are implemented swiftly. We urge women with concerns about their family history of breast cancer to speak to their doctor."
The campaign group Breast Cancer Campaign also welcomed this good news for women at high risk of breast cancer. Chief Executive Baroness Delyth Morgan said: "We're really pleased to see these guidelines include new recommendations which could really benefit women at high risk of breast cancer. The biggest changes are preventative drug treatments for breast cancer being considered for the first time and wider access to genetic testing which could bring about earlier diagnoses.
"We look forward to understanding the full details behind the draft guidelines in the coming weeks and ensuring the final recommendations will best support women with breast cancer and have a positive impact on their quality of life."
The guideline is now out for consultation and a Guideline Development Group will consider these comments and issue a final version for implementation later this year.
Pictured; Steve and the cross-party team on a visit to No 10 in January 2013