Below is an extract from a House of Commons debate of 26 July that may be of interest to some of you:
"Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce family history breast screening as part of the national breast screening programme; and if he will make a statement.
Ann Keen: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published a clinical guideline on familial breast cancer in May 2004, partially updated in October 2006.
The clinical guideline relates to the classification and care of women at risk of familial breast cancer in primary, secondary and tertiary care. The guideline recommends that women at moderate familial risk of breast cancer or greater should receive annual mammography or magnetic resonance imaging surveillance.
NICE clinical guidelines are covered by the Department’s developmental standards, standards which the national health service is expected to achieve
over time. The Healthcare Commission has responsibility for assessing progress towards achieving these standards.
As part of the development of the new Cancer Reform Strategy, we are examining the feasibility of bringing the management of surveillance of women at moderate familial risk of breast cancer or greater into the NHS breast screening programme."