Ovarian cancer: NICE recommends expanding availability of genetic testing

New draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends widening the eligibility criteria for testing for genes linked to ovarian cancer.1

Anyone can carry a gene linked to ovarian cancer, including women, men, and trans or non-binary people, and they can pass it on to their children. But NICE says the best estimates suggest that only around 3% of people with a high risk gene know about it. If the new guidelines are finalised hundreds of thousands of people could be offered genetic testing, allowing them to consider preventive measures such as surgery.

The draft guidance recommends that healthcare professionals refer women, men, trans people, and non-binary people …