GPs’ breast cancer guidelines ‘miss’ 95% of women who will develop disease
Summary
Research from the University of Cambridge and the Institute of Cancer Research shows that current guidelines used by GPs in England fail to identify 95% of women under 50 who will develop breast cancer within 10 years. The study suggests the need to update referral criteria to include factors beyond family history, improving early detection and prevention.Key Facts
- Current NICE guidelines mainly rely on family history to decide if women under 50 should get further breast cancer assessments.
- 95% of women under 50 who develop breast cancer in 10 years are missed by these guidelines.
- About 73% of women under 50 who get breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease.
- Researchers compared NICE criteria with a new assessment tool called Boadicea, which considers lifestyle, reproductive history, and genetics.
- Boadicea identified eight times more at-risk women than NICE’s current system.
- Experts highlight the need to balance more detailed assessments with healthcare resource limits and costs.
- Breast Cancer Now supports reviewing NICE guidelines alongside proper investment in services for family history and risk assessment.
- NICE acknowledges the research and is reviewing its criteria in light of new findings.
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