
Womanfocus Genetic Screening Test
For women aged 25+
Test results in 7 working days
Identify cancer risk
The Womanfocus genetic cancer test accurately calculates the risk of a person developing breast and ovarian cancer during their lifetime, using a single saliva sample.
- If aged 25+
- Your mother or sister has had breast or ovarian cancer
- Or there is a strong history of cancer in the family
Breast and Ovarian Cancer is the Most Common Cancer in Women
48,000 new breast
cancer cases in the
UK annually
12,000 die from
breast cancer
annually
7,500 new ovarian
cancer cases in the
UK every year
4,100 die from
ovarian cancer
annually
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and Ovarian cancer is the most common gynaecological malignancy.
Family history and genetic factors are major risk factors in the development of breast and ovarian cancer.
Other risk factors include:
- advancing age
- being overweight
- hormonal and reproductive factors
- smoking history
- ethnic background
Family history is not enough. Test everyone and you overlook no one
Mutated genes involved in DNA repair called DNA Damage Repair (DDR) genes are associated with high or moderate risk of a person developing breast cancer. High risk genes such as BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2 and STK11 genes are associated with a 40-90% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. Similarly BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are associated with a 30-50% and 10-25% risk of ovarian cancer development during a person’s lifetime.
Breast and ovarian cancer risk can also be increased by the inheritance of common genetic mutations called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Individually a single SNP causes a very small increase in risk but cumulatively inheritance of many SNPs can give a lifetime breast cancer risk of 33%.
Those women identified at high risk can benefit from lifestyle changes, cancer preventative drugs and increased screenings to catch potential cancers at an early and treatable stage.


Womanfocus is a simple and easy saliva test which uses DNA sequencing to assess the status of a person’s DDR genes and their SNP profile. This information is used to accurately calculate the risk of a person developing breast or ovarian cancer during their lifetime.
If a genetic mutation is identified, close relatives (children, siblings, parents) could have as high as a 50% risk of developing the disease.





What is cancer?
Is all cancer genetic?
Is all cancer inherited?
What can increase the risk of breast cancer?
How can genetic testing be helpful?
What if nothing is found?
What if a significant gene change is found?
What if a subtle gene change is identified where the significance is unclear?
How does this compare to NHS testing?
What can be done to lower the risk of breast cancer?
What can be done to detect breast cancer at an early stage?
Can screening be harmful?
Are there risks associated with genetic testing?
Can insurance companies use this information?
What do we know about inherited breast cancer?
What new technologies may be coming onto the market?
Where is additional information available?
BRCA1 (BReast CAncer gene 1) and BRCA2 (BReast CAncer gene 2) are genes that produce proteins to repair damaged DNA. Everyone has two copies of each of these genes—one copy inherited from each parent. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are sometimes called tumour suppressor because when they have certain changes, called harmful or pathogenic mutations cancer can develop. People who inherit harmful mutations in one of these genes have increased risks of several cancers—most notably breast and ovarian cancer. People who inherited a BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation tend to develop cancer at younger ages. Each child of a parent who carries any mutation in one of these genes has a 50% chance (or 1 in 2 chance) of inheriting the mutation. Cells that don’t have any functioning BRCA1 or BRCA2 proteins can grow out of control and become cancer.
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) contains the genetic instructions in all living things. DNA is made up of two strands that form a double helix. A DNA strand has four different bases arranged in different orders. These bases are T (thymine), A (adenine), C (cytosine), and G (guanine). DNA is “read” by the order of the bases, Ts, Cs, Gs, and As. The specific order, or sequence, of these bases determines the exact information carried in each gene (e.g., instructions for making a specific protein).
Genetic cancer risk 5-10% of all cancer is due to a genetic fault (mutation) which can be inherited. Families with an inherited mutation can benefit from cancer risk screening. Families with an increased risk of cancer often show one of the following clues:
• Several relatives with the same or linked types of cancer
• Relatives diagnosed at particularly young ages (before 50)
• Several affected generations
• Individuals who have been diagnosed with multiple cancers
Cancers which can be linked in some families are Breast, Ovarian, Prostate, Pancreatic, Bowel, Womb and Stomach cancers.
Genetic Counsellor can help explain the risks and benefits of a genetic test, the potential results of a genetic test, what the results mean, how family members may be effected, and direct individuals to relevant patient support groups.
Mutations All cancers begin when one or more genes in a cell mutate. A mutation is a change. It creates an abnormal protein. Or it may prevent a protein’s formation. Mutations happen often and may be beneficial, harmful, or neutral. Typically, the body corrects most mutations. A single mutation will likely not cause cancer. Usually, cancer occurs from multiple mutations over a lifetime. That is why cancer occurs more often in older people.
Oncology is the study of cancer. An Oncologist is a doctor who treats cancer and provides medical care for a person diagnosed with cancer.
Targeted therapy is treatment that targets specific genes, proteins, or other molecules that contribute to cancer growth and survival.
Variant of Uncertain Significance (VUS) is a genetic change whose impact on an individual’s cancer risk is not yet known. Everyone’s genes are slightly different. Some genetic changes (variants/mutations) do not affect the gene’s function and therefore do not increase cancer risk. With genetic testing you might not get a “Normal” or “Positive.” You might get an Inconclusive mutation VUS. Unlike harmful mutations that cause cancer or benign ones that don’t, researchers don’t yet have enough information about VUS to know whether they’re involved in cancer. Almost 20% of genetic tests identify a VUS.
Genetic categories of variants/mutations are ranked from most to least severe.
- Pathogenic (harmful, increased risk of disease)
- Likely pathogenic
- Variant of Uncertain Significance (VUS)
- Likely benign
- Benign (harmless)
The categories follow American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines and genetic results should be shared with a healthcare professional and discussed with a medical doctor.
- ACCURATE GENETIC TEST
Examines the DNA code of genes known to cause increased risk. - EASY SALIVA SAMPLE KIT
enables genetic testing to aid treatment or future cancer prevention. - QUICK RESULTS
within 7 working days of sample receipt at Oncologica’s laboratory.
