Feltz, who is herself a mother of two and a grandmother of four, said that by the time her mother was diagnosed “after about two years of trying to be taken seriously”, she was riddled with cancer.
“It tears my heart and soul to think of what she has missed – my children growing up, her grandchildren and great grandchildren being born, birthdays, graduations. I have my grief but also the grief of what she never lived to see.”
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Vanessa Feltz at the one-year anniversary of the launch of the NHS Jewish BRCA Screening Programme (Photo: Aaron Parfitt)[Missing Credit]
So, around 15 years ago, when a doctor told Vanessa that because of her family history, she could have a BRCA test, the media star not only seized the opportunity, but she also offered her two daughters, Allegra, 38 and Saskia, 35, the chance to do the same. They both readily agreed.
The test screens for changes in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes that vastly increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer and can also increase the risk of pancreatic and prostate cancer.
“I’m so glad we did it. Thankfully, we are all clear. It just spares so much anguish – the cost of losing a parent far too soon and suffering that terrible gap in your life.”
Now Vanessa, 62, is lending her support to the groundbreaking NHS Jewish BRCA Testing Programme, chairing a reception in Manchester this week to mark its first anniversary.
The event was hosted by NHS England with Jnetics and Chai Cancer Care, who have been raising awareness in the Jewish community of the screening programme.
It was 27 years ago that Professor Gareth Evans, a medical genetics and cancer epidemiology consultant at the University of Manchester, authored a study about the prevalence of defective BRCA genes in the Jewish community.
Until a year ago, only those with a family history of cancer or who had cancer themselves were eligible for a BRCA genetic test on the NHS.
Now, anyone living in England, aged 18 or over, with at least one Jewish grandparent can have the free test. Both men and women can have a BRCA gene fault. Their children have a 50 per cent chance of also carrying the BRCA.
Ranjit Manchanda, professor of gynaecological oncology at the Wolfson Institute of Population Health, who spent 15 years spearheading the screening project, told the JC that the free testing programme was about empowering Jewish people. They then could have access to options to offset the risk such as more frequent mammograms, preventative surgery or medication.
Vanessa Feltz has urged people to sign up for the NHS Jewish BRCA screening programme (Photo: Aaron Parfitt)[Missing Credit]
He said: “Not many things in life can save life and save money. This test can. These cancers are preventable and if you know about them, you can take steps to prevent them.”
The test itself simply involves sending off a sample of saliva.
Vanessa joked at the event that she had “shlepped to the frozen north” and exhorted everyone to spread the word about the test.
She added: “I am now five years older than mum was when she died. And, every day, I passionately wish that we would have known she was suffering from cancer sooner.
Vanessa Feltz (centre) with (l-r) chief executive of Chai Cancer Care Lisa Steele, CEO of Jnetics Nicole Gordon, CEO of the Christie NHS Foundation Trust Roger Spencer, chair of Chai Cancer Care Louise Hager MBE, chair of Jnetics Anthony Angel (Photo: Aaron Parfitt)[Missing Credit]
"I would have done anything to have another 30 years with her. The decision to do the test is so much better than the alternative – no awareness, no knowledge, and the cost of losing a parent too soon. At least with the test you can take an informed view. You can arm yourself, protect yourself.”
Click here for more information and to sign up to the NHS Jewish BRCA Testing Programme or go to: jewishbrca.org
What is BCRA?
BRCA stands for breast cancer gene. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are genes that help repair DNA and prevent cancer.
Mutations in these genes can increase the risk primarily of breast and ovarian cancer, but also of prostate and pancreatic cancer.
The risk of carrying BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations is one in 40 in Ashkenazi Jewish people and one in 140 among Sephardi Jews. This compares with one in 250 in the general UK population.
Female carriers of the BRCA 1 have a 72 per cent chance of developing breast cancer in their lifetime and a 44 per cent chance of getting ovarian cancer.
Female carriers of BRCA 2 have a 69 per lifetime cent chance of getting breast cancer and a 17 per cent risk of ovarian cancer. A woman in the general population has an 11.5 per cent risk of breast cancer and a 1.5 per cent chance of getting ovarian cancer.
Male carriers of the BRCA 2 have a 27 per cent chance of developing prostate cancer, compared to 12.5. per cent in the general population.
Men with BRCA also have a higher risk of developing breast cancer, and both male and female carriers have a higher chance of getting pancreatic cancer, although the risks are still relatively low.
Click here for more information and to sign up to the NHS Jewish BRCA Testing Programme or go to: jewishbrca.org
