Breast cancer test available to all public patients from this week
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A new breast cancer test will be available to public patients who request it from this week onwards.
The HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme has approved the use of the Oncotype DX test which determines whether chemotherapy would be a suitable treatment for breast cancer patients.
The genetics-based test means that about 30pc of women who would otherwise have had chemotheraphy will be spared the treatment.
While it had been expected that the test would prove too expensive to rollout by the HSE, the National Cancer Control Programme decided that it represented value for money.
It is understood that about 300 people will avail of the test each year.
- Independent.ie reporters
