Free genetic tests for cancer and heart disease for 18-40 year olds from Monash University

More than 10,000 young Australians registered for a free genetic test for cancer and heart disease within 24 hours of its launch. See how you can apply.

Exclusive: A new program providing a free genetic test to 18-40 year olds to find out if they are at higher risk of cancer and heart disease has been overwhelmed with demand.

More than 10,000 Australians registered for the test within the first 24 hours of the program being launched.

Monash University researcher Professor Paul Lacaze who is running the program said it was “like drinking from a fire hose”.

Government research funding for the program will cover 10,000 tests and Professor Lacaze is now appealing to philanthropic donors to provide more cash to meet the demand.

“In the first 24 hours we were oversubscribed. That is unheard of,” he said.

He is urging young people who want to be tested to continue to register.

“Don’t stop registering, we will figure out a way to make this work,” he said.

The overwhelming demand for the testing showed that there was a great public demand for genetic testing especially when it was free and provided through the public health system.

The idea of the test is to warn patients if they were at higher risk of cancer and heart disease so they could undertake preventive measures such as regular scans, colonoscopies, take medicines and undergo surgery to prevent the conditions, he said.

“This shows young people are wanting to be proactive about their health,” he said.

The genetic test you will be sent in the mail to test for genes that put you at higher risk of cancer and heart disease. Picture Supplied

The pilot study will develop a new DNA screening test that could later be used to introduce nationwide genetic screening to prevent cancer.

“For some people, this could save their lives through early detection and prevention of cancer and heart disease. This will also save considerable health system costs in Australia through prevention,” Mr Lacaze said.

Participants are sent a genetic testing kit in the mail and will have to provide a saliva sample that can be collected at home and mailed back to Monash University.

The screening test will look for the Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) genes, including BRCA1 and BRCA 2, which put carriers at high risk for breast, ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancer, and melanomas.

It will screen for Lynch Syndrome genes linked to hereditary colorectal cancer and gastrointestinal cancer predisposition.

The test will also look for gene variations linked to familial hypercholesterolaemia which results in high risk of heart disease from a young age.

One in 75 Australians have one of these DNA variants, but most don’t know it.

Young people who are found to carry the high risk genes will be given a special counselling session and be referred to a genetic doctor who can talk through with them their future health management.

The counselling and medical care will be provided at no cost through public clinics around the country.

“We have gone to great lengths to safeguard the privacy of the data we collect and all the information will be stored by Monash according to strict privacy and data security protocols,” Professor Lacaze said.

Chaya Goldman volunteered for a genetic testing research project in 2019. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Chaya Goldberg was shocked to discover she carried a breast and ovarian cancer-causing gene when she volunteered for a genetic testing research project in 2019.

“There was no history of cancer in my family,” said the 29 year old from Melbourne who works as a genetic counsellor.

“For the first few days after I got the result it was on my mind a lot. But actually being so young it was probably a positive because I had time up my sleeve and I have that space to think about my options,” she said.

“I have a good understanding that it’s a predisposition. It’s not a cancer diagnosis,” she said.

She had an MRI to check for cancer and now plans to have annual scans. She is also thinking about when she wants to have children and whether to have her ovaries removed.

Register online dnascreen.monash.edu

Originally published as Free genetic tests for cancer and heart disease for 18-40 year olds from Monash University