A blood and saliva test, conducted by a team in Manchester, finds 18 genetic variations which are known to affect the opportunity of an individual developing breast cancer.
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The test can predict more accurately how a woman develops breast cancer and soon be available to those high-risk groups.
Women who have high-risk breast cancer genes now usually choose to do mastectomy to prevent the development of the cancer.
However, the test can further narrow down the risk level and allow women to make their own choices with more consolidated knowledge.
Photo via flickr
Cancer charities have appreciated the process and voiced their joy over the "more tailored method" of cancer screening.
It is now known that BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations can highly increase women's risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) will be the first organisation to provide the test for women to find if they have these two genes.
The DNA of 451 women, who had developed breast cancer with a family history of the disease, are analysed in the study by researchers at MFT and the University of Manchester.
The data was used along with other factors to predict the risk of each woman.
Photo via flickr
Preventative breast-removal surgery is actually not recommended because many of the women classified by doctors as being in the high-risk category were reclassified to the lower risk group.
The study can help reduce the number of women with the mutations to do a mastectomy, from 50 per cent to 36 per cent.
Lead researcher Professor Gareth Evans, a medical genetics expert at the University of Manchester, said: "This new test will help women at risk of familial breast cancer to make more informed decisions about their care."
Getty photo
"BRCA1 and BRCA2 are just part of what we should be looking for when assessing risk and ... we plan to incorporate screening for these new genetic markers in clinical practice within the next six months."
Lester Barr, of the Prevent Breast Cancer charity, which partly funded the research, also said, "With more accurate genetic testing, we can better predict a woman's risk of developing the disease and therefore offer the appropriate advice ... rather than a 'one size fits all' approach.
It's this more tailored method that will help us on our mission to protect future generations."
LONDON (AP) — It was nearly a comeback for the ages for Coventry. Instead, it ended in another gut-wrenching penalty shootout loss at Wembley for the second-tier team as Manchester United limped into another FA Cup final.
Coventry pulled off one of the most unexpected fightbacks in FA Cup history by rallying from three goals down against United to force extra time after a 3-3 draw in Sunday’s semifinal, only to falter at the end and let Erik ten Hag's team escape with a 4-2 win in the shootout.
Rasmus Hojlund scored the decisive penalty kick to save United from another embarrassing collapse after Callum O'Hare and Ben Sheaf had missed their spot kicks for Coventry.
“It was an incredible game, a strange game too,” Ten Hag said. “We had total control for so long and then gave it away in the last part of the game. We did show resilience to win the penalty shootout.”
It was another heartbreaking ending at Wembley for Coventry, which also lost on penalties to Luton in last year’s Championship playoff final to miss out on promotion to the Premier League.
United's narrow escape sets up a second straight Manchester derby in the final against defending champion Manchester City, which beat Chelsea on Saturday.
But it should never have been this close.
United looked to be cruising toward the final after Bruno Fernades’ deflected shot put them 3-0 up in the 58th minute against a Championship side that had defied the odds just to make the semifinals.
But Coventry is no stranger to comebacks, having scored twice in injury time to beat Wolverhampton in the quarterfinals, and staged an even greater one this time to set off wild celebrations in the sky-blue half of Wembley.
Striker Ellis Simms gave the Championship side a glimmer of hope by sweeping home a cross from Fabio Tavares in the 71st, O’Hare netted the second with the help of a lucky deflection in the 79th and Haji Wright equalized from the penalty spot in the fifth minute of injury time after a handball by Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
United had taken the lead in the 23rd when Scott McTominay had an easy tap-in into an empty net. Harry Maguire then headed in the second from a corner to secure what seemed like a comfortable halftime lead, which soon looked insurmountable after Fernandes’ shot took a deflection to sneak inside the near post for United’s third.
But no lead seems safe for this United side.
This was a second late collapse in a matter of weeks after United gave up two injury-time goals in a 4-3 Premier Leauge loss to Chelsea this month, when Ten Hag called on his team to learn how to close out games. They showed no signs of having learned that lesson, and Coventry came the closest to netting the winner in extra time against a shell-shocked United.
Simms first hit the crossbar with a stinging strike and Victor Torp then thought he had scored the winner in the 120th minute — setting off more wild celebrations by the Coventry players and fans — but it was ruled out by VAR for offside to set up the penalty shootout.
Casemiro missed United's first penalty by shooting straight at goalkeeper Bradley Collins but Andre Onana saved O'Hare's spot kick before Sheaf sent his well over the crossbar.
It saved Ten Hag from another embarrassment and gives United a chance to salvage what has been a disappointing season. United only has an outside chance of qualifying for the Champions League next season and an FA Cup trophy — at rival City's expense — could be the only thing that will convince new minority owner Jim Ratcliffe to keep Ten Hag in charge for next season.
The 71-year-old Ratcliffe was in the stands after running the London Marathon earlier in the day. Watching the last hour of United's performance may have been just as exhausting as the last part of that race.
United's players hardly even celebrated when Hojlund's decisive penalty went in, with only Christian Eriksen running over to celebrate with his fellow Dane. Most of the players remained by the halfway line, almost sheepishly shaking hands with the Coventry players — knowing how close they had come to one of the club's most embarrassing defeats.
“We put ourselves in a difficult position and should have killed it earlier but we didn’t," Fernandes said. "We have to do so much better.”
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Coventry City's goalkeeper Bradley Ray Collins fails to save the goal from Manchester United's Harry Maguire during the English FA Cup semifinal soccer match between Coventry City and Manchester United at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the English FA Cup semifinal soccer match between Coventry City and Manchester United at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes scores his side's third goal during the English FA Cup semifinal soccer match between Coventry City and Manchester United at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Manchester United's Marcus Rashford challenges for the ball with Coventry City's Benjamin David Sheaf, bottom, during the English FA Cup semifinal soccer match between Coventry City and Manchester United at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Manchester United's goalkeeper Andre Onana dives but fails to save the goal from Coventry City's Haji Amir Wright, second right, during the English FA Cup semifinal soccer match between Coventry City and Manchester United at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Coventry City players celebrate after scoring during the English FA Cup semifinal soccer match between Coventry City and Manchester United at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
