Martin: Wait for cancer gene test too long

Women concerned they may have the same life-threatening cancer gene as actress Angelina Jolie are having to wait too long for testing, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has warned.

He was reacting to a report in yesterday’s Irish Examiner that women in Ireland at risk must either wait 18 months for DNA testing, or pay €1,400 to go private.

Mr Martin said the situation was not acceptable.

Ms Jolie decided to have a double mastectomy after she tested positive for the “faulty gene” BRCA1, which meant she had an 87% chance of getting breast cancer.

Raising the issue in the Dáil, Mr Martin said about 4,200 women were known to have familial risks but only one in 15 had a genetic mutation.

“We do not have a DNA screening programme for BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations.

“At the moment, women who have a family history of breast cancer are generally referred to their GPs for advice and may be referred on to one of the eight cancer centres of excellence in the country or be referred to a private centre, where the costs are prohibitive.

“The Irish Cancer Society has confirmed that there are approximately 360 Irish women who have the relevant mutation in their BRCA genes. The waiting time for such tests to be carried out, at up to 18 months, is excessive due to a shortage of funding.

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“This situation is unacceptable, particularly because any woman who receives a positive test result is in a position to make a decision to have surgery which could dramatically reduce her risk of developing cancer.

“The risk of developing breast cancer can be reduced from 87% to 5% and the risk for ovarian cancer can be reduced by up to 50%.”

Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dáil a working group was bringing in a strategy to spot at-risk categories in breast cancer treatment.

Mr Kenny insisted that women would not be asked to wait if their GP had concerns.

“Obviously that case has to be given priority and a screening,’’ he said.

Mr Martin said a working group was not enough.

“It can mean something, but it would have to be followed up by a clear commitment to adequately resource the provision of such a programme and service.”

The public row over the delays came as a senior specialist in charge of performing the DNA testing said the 18-month waiting list is the direct result of a long-term lack of funding from the HSE.

Dr David Barton, director of the molecular genetics laboratory at the Crumlin Hospital-based National Centre for Medical Genetics, said budget reductions mean the specialist service now operated on a quarter of the required staff — including two interns.

Dr Barton said the centre has no option other than to send DNA tests for screening in Britain, causing further delays, while he added that much of the Irish equipment is completely out of date.

“Our equipment is 10 to 15 years old, and we have to send our samples to Birmingham because we are under-resourced.”