Reply to: 23andme

[doodab]

I wonder if the NHS or other groups will start doing this as standard one day, to optimise sending at-risk people for more regular scans, etc. You'd think it could save money long-term and improve outcomes.

They do, or are at least trailing it, with certain things like cervical cancer

[SueEllen]

I read your post without looking at the authors name and guessed it was you.

[Churchill]

And which diseases have massive charity campaigns behind them?

There are more diseases that certain sectors of the population and certain individuals should have checks for but aren't included.

There are also some issues with the current national screening regimes as they are finding a lot of false positives. Also the screening regimes mean there are GPs who are ignoring symptoms in younger individuals due to them not fitting into an age category.

I read your post without looking at the authors name and guessed it was you.

[SueEllen]

Well, women have regular cervical and breast exams, and men have regular bum exams, past certain ages, IIRC? So the frequency of such things could be modulated based on your genes.

And which diseases have massive charity campaigns behind them?

There are more diseases that certain sectors of the population and certain individuals should have checks for but aren't included.

There are also some issues with the current national screening regimes as they are finding a lot of false positives. Also the screening regimes mean there are GPs who are ignoring symptoms in younger individuals due to them not fitting into an age category.

[d000hg]

Well, women have regular cervical and breast exams, and men have regular bum exams, past certain ages, IIRC? So the frequency of such things could be modulated based on your genes.

[SueEllen]

I wonder if the NHS or other groups will start doing this as standard one day, to optimise sending at-risk people for more regular scans, etc. You'd think it could save money long-term and improve outcomes.

The NHS isn't generally about preventative medicine unless you fall into one of the groups where there is a massive charity behind you.

Apart from the individuals I know whose GPs have refused to do simple blood tests to monitor conditions, there are whole populations they are refusing to screen for certain things due to fears about costs.

[d000hg]

I wonder if the NHS or other groups will start doing this as standard one day, to optimise sending at-risk people for more regular scans, etc. You'd think it could save money long-term and improve outcomes.

[mudskipper]

Before you decide to have a gene test : Cancer Research UK : CancerHelp UK

Financial considerations
Many people are concerned about getting health and life insurance after having a genetic test. Currently the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and the Government have agreed to a temporary ban on asking people for the results of genetic tests for cancer. This agreement is called a Concordat and Moratorium. The agreement lasts until 2014 when they will review it.

Insurance companies can still ask about family history and may charge more for families with a strong family history of cancer. If you have had a genetic test and it shows you don’t have a gene, you may choose to tell the insurance company.

Cover your arse - quick!

[mudskipper]

Yeah, it's really useful.

I'll start having regular checks when I turn 40, as is recommended for those with a family history of it, rather than 50 for gen pop. Previously I had no idea I was a higher risk but it's good to know.

For insurance, I'd probably use the NHS but my private insurance just asks for pre-existing conditions not genetics. If it's ever an issue I imagine other countries would copy the GINA law from the US which forbids insurers from discriminating on grounds of genetics.

When you have a terrible bum condition like me that's heartening.

I was thinking more about sickness cover and that kind of thing.

I suppose a good plan would be to take out a policy, have the test, then cancel the policy if you're not likely to need it!

[DieScum]

So do you feel better for knowing that? And what about insurance - can you now get cover for botty cancer?

I'd rather not know!

Yeah, it's really useful.

I'll start having regular checks when I turn 40, as is recommended for those with a family history of it, rather than 50 for gen pop. Previously I had no idea I was a higher risk but it's good to know.

For insurance, I'd probably use the NHS but my private insurance just asks for pre-existing conditions not genetics. If it's ever an issue I imagine other countries would copy the GINA law from the US which forbids insurers from discriminating on grounds of genetics.

When you have a terrible bum condition like me that's heartening.

[mudskipper]

It's international human specimen shipping.

For me the cost, including shipping, is incredibly low. It's like living in the future. A future in which I am more likely than most to get bum cancer it says.

So do you feel better for knowing that? And what about insurance - can you now get cover for botty cancer?

I'd rather not know!

[doodab]

The fact that if you lived in the US it would be under $110 shows this is rip off Britain.

It shows that Britain is $79 away from Mountain View, which is about $0.015 per mile.

[rhubarb]

It's international human specimen shipping.

For me the cost, including shipping, is incredibly low. It's like living in the future. A future in which I am more likely than most to get bum cancer it says.

Get yourself off for a colonoscopy.
SUCH fun.

[DieScum]

The fact that if you lived in the US it would be under $110 shows this is rip off Britain.

It's international human specimen shipping.

For me the cost, including shipping, is incredibly low. It's like living in the future. A future in which I am more likely than most to get bum cancer it says.

[SueEllen]

Does $179, including shipping, sound more reasonable?

The fact that if you lived in the US it would be under $110 shows this is rip off Britain.