Medicare-funded cancer genetic tests: a note of caution

Medical Journal of Australia

3 September 2018 - Clinicians need appropriate education and support in keeping pace with the genomics revolution.

Media headlines stating that genetic testing for patients with a high risk of breast and ovarian cancer are now free are somewhat misleading. Clinical genetic testing for heritable, germ-line mutations (pathogenic variants) in two major genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) that are associated with a high risk of breast and ovarian cancer came into Australian practice in the mid-1990s, and were offered free of charge (but not under Medicare) to appropriate patients in public clinics. 

Until now, testing, which has proven clinical utility, has mostly been offered through a network of family cancer clinics and genetics services that provide expert genetic counselling and testing of these genes in the context of familial breast and ovarian cancer.

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Michael Wonder

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Michael Wonder