Julia Bradbury has said "lives could be saved" if a new form of testing for breast cancer was available on the NHS. The broadcaster has called for the saliva test to be rolled out following the encouraging results of a study.
Former Countryfile host Bradbury - who was diagnosed with the condition aged 51 - wrote on Twitter: "I could have saved my left breast if I'd have had this saliva test. Thousands of other women could be saved from the trauma of brutal treatment.
"Lives could be saved if this test was available on the NHS. Please share."
Julia accompanied the post with an article detailing the genetic test, The Express reports. Used alongside standard medical and life history information, and a measure of women's breast density, it accurately predicted a higher risk of breast cancer in just under 50% of those who developed it.
Professor Gareth Evans led the study at Manchester University. He said: "If all these women took drugs to prevent breast cancer, that could prevent a quarter of breast cancer cases and potentially save the lives of 2,000 women a year."
Researchers want the one-off test to be rolled out to women at around the age of 30, years before they become eligible for mammograms aged 50. The Daily Mail reports that the saliva test is expected to cost around £250 on the NHS, while breast cancer treatment can cost tens of thousands of pounds.
Bradbury had a mastectomy to have a 6cm tumour removed from her left breast. The mother-of-three was later widely praised for her ITV documentary Julia Bradbury: Breast Cancer and Me, which followed her personal story.
Presently, women under 50 are only given a genetic test on the NHS if a faulty gene has been identified in one of their relatives, or if there is a strong family history of cancer. According to The Mail, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the findings of the new study were "promising", adding: "We are constantly monitoring innovative research like this to help inform our approach and get patients treated quicker."
