A MOTHER of four is calling for ‘fairer access’ to genetic testing after being diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer.
Ellie Sullivan, owner of Boo Boo Beauty in Broadway, who was diagnosed earlier this year, is calling on the government to make it easier for people to access inherited cancer gene testing om the NHS.
The business owner was denied genetic testing ten years ago after being referred to Birmingham Women’s Hospital because she did not know enough information about her family history.
In order to get genetically tested, currently, you must have a parent under the age of 40 with a cancer diagnosis alongside another family member.
She is calling on the government to change the criteria and make it so any child who has a parent under the age of 45 can access testing.
In just over a week, the petition has been signed by nearly 2,000 people. For more information, click here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/763294?utm_id=97758_v0_s00_e0_tv0&fbclid=IwY2xjawRNYRBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFNbFZUN2RQZndqTjN4ZUdwc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPNTE0NzcxNTY5MjI4MDYxAAEe4vNHayK4K7-OJJucA7BrKo3-APYhOOXb3xSBtL3SgDMF8cHX1WfB_pkZyNI_aem_Dasfons3K73kGB_EWEucqg
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The 38-year-old said: “My mum was 42 when she was diagnosed and passed at 51. I was referred to Birmingham genetics but was refused a genetic test because I did not know enough about my family history. There are a lot of people out there who also don’t know a lot about their family history.
“I’ve started a petition calling for fairer access to genetic testing. People should not be denied testing simply because they don’t have enough family information. It has been backed by the Pink Ribbon Foundation. The petition has been up for about a week, and it’s been signed by nearly 2,000 people. It’s amazing and shows there’s a real gap.
“There are a lot of young women, including many younger than myself in their 20s, who only get genetically tested once they get a diagnosis. I was never given the option or the chance ten years ago because I did not know my family history. It’s more about the preventatives than reacting.
“Fairer access will give young women a chance to find out if they have the gene. It really, really reduces the risk. If I had known, I would have had preventative surgery ten years ago. It’s for the next generation. My treatment plan will last 18 months, with 6 months on chemotherapy. That’s a massive expense on the NHS.”
NHS England – Midlands has been approached for comment.