New cancer registry to focus on high-risk families

26/3/02
Health Minister Bob Kucera today launched a State-wide registry to identify family members at high risk of developing cancer.
The first State-wide Familial Cancer Registry has been established as part of the Familial Cancer Program developed by Genetic Services of Western Australia.
Mr Kucera said the registry, which was developed in response to a need for a single registry of names, identified families at high risk of familial cancers and those with mutations in cancer susceptibility.
"The registry will monitor families by ensuring they have regular tests and provide reminder letters for check-ups," he said.
"The whole community will benefit as long-term costs will be saved by providing early testing for genes that predispose a person to three types of cancer - bowel, breast and ovarian.
"More importantly it will help save many WA lives."
Mr Kucera said that the predictive testing provided by Genetic Services of WA accurately confirmed if family members had inherited a gene. Appropriate screening could then be carried out.
"Family members who are then found not to carry the gene can also be reassured that, despite their family history, their risk of developing cancer is no different from other members of the community," he said.
Cancer is the second leading cause of premature death in Australia, accounting for nearly 3,000 deaths in WA every year.
"As the population in WA ages and better diagnostic methods are developed for detecting cancer, the number of cancer patients will increase," Mr Kucera said
"The good news is that the overall death-rate from cancer is beginning to fall, and this includes the five to 10 per cent of cancers that have a genetic pre-disposition."
Minister's office 9213 7000