The NHS in England has launched a first-of-its-kind national genetics programme to help people at high inherited risk of cancer receive ongoing checks, tests and personalised care. This new initiative centres on the NHS National Inherited Cancer Predisposition Register, a database of people whose genes put them at higher risk of certain cancers.
This register will include information on around 120 genes known to be linked with an increased likelihood of developing cancer. People already identified with faulty cancer-related genes — for example changes in BRCA genes — will be automatically added and will receive invitations for routine screening and monitoring.
The programme aims to spot cancer risks earlier, help people take steps to reduce risk, and speed up access to appropriate tests, treatments and clinical trials. NHS doctors say this marks a new era in early detection, where knowing a person’s genetic risk can guide personalised healthcare plans.
It builds on existing work like the Lynch syndrome register, which has already helped over 12,000 people at high risk of bowel cancer get extra screening, significantly lowering the chance they develop the disease.
In practice, someone with an inherited cancer risk on the register might get earlier or more frequent checks (such as mammograms or colonoscopies), targeted advice on lifestyle or medical interventions, and faster referrals to specialists — all designed to catch cancer early or prevent it altogether.
Health leaders emphasise that while everyone’s risk of cancer varies, inherited gene changes are a powerful clue about who might benefit from earlier action. This new national programme aims to use that information more systematically to save more lives and reduce late-stage cancer diagnoses.
