US panel rejects routine use of BRCA cancer screening in women

Women whose family history does not suggest that they have an increased risk of carrying harmful BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations should not undergo routine BRCA testing, according to draft recommendations released on 2 April by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).1

Women whose family history suggests that they carry the cancer susceptibility genes should be tested but only after expert genetic counseling, the USPSTF panel said.

About 12.3% of women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, and 2.8% will die from the disease. Clinically …