The NHS’s rollout of a revolutionary liquid biopsy test for lung and breast cancer is making headlines—and for good reason.
By detecting tumour DNA through a simple blood draw, patients are now receiving targeted treatment up to two weeks earlier.
It’s a breakthrough that marks a wider shift in cancer care: from one-size-fits-all treatments to personalised, genomics-driven medicine.
But while we’re making strides in how cancer is treated, there’s still work to do when it comes to how it’s prevented.
That’s where genetic testing for cancer—especially in individuals with a strong family history—plays a crucial role.
Yet despite national guidelines, most people who qualify for hereditary cancer testing never receive it.
A large-scale study of over 1.3 million cancer patients found that only 6 per cent had undergone germline genetic testing within two years of diagnosis.
That means thousands of families could be unaware of a shared inherited cancer risk—risk that could be detected early, managed proactively, or even prevented.
The Power of Knowing Early
This is exactly what UK-based healthtech company Jeen Health is working to address.
Jeen offers private cancer genetic testing in the UK, combining convenience, clinical accuracy and expert support.
Using the Fulgent Full Focus Cancer Panel, Jeen screens 50 genes linked to high- and moderate-risk hereditary cancers—including BRCA1, BRCA2, TP53, APC and more. These genes are associated with conditions like Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome (HBOC), Lynch Syndrome, Li-Fraumeni Syndrome and Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP).
“The earlier you do genetic testing, the more prepared you are to make important lifestyle and healthcare decisions,” says Tom Ushakov, founder of Jeen Health.
“This shift to preventive care is about giving people more time, more options, and more clarity. We believe personalised insight should be available before symptoms appear—not after.”
Genetic Counselling at the Centre
Unlike some commercial providers, Jeen puts genetic counselling at the heart of every test.
Before a kit is ever posted out, individuals meet with a trained counsellor who helps them map out a family history pedigree, choose the right panel, and understand what their results may mean for them and their relatives.
This expert guidance continues post-test, especially in cases where a variant of uncertain significance (VUS) or a positive result is identified.
The goal isn’t just to deliver information—but to ensure it’s actionable, responsible, and rooted in evidence-based care.
This approach supports a comprehensive genetic risk assessment for cancer in the UK, empowering individuals to take control of their future.
Who Should Consider Testing?
Jeen’s cancer genetic screening tests are most appropriate for adults with:
- A family history of cancer (especially before age 50)
- Multiple relatives with the same or related cancers
- A personal history of multiple cancers
- Known pathogenic variants in the family
The process is straightforward: a remote consultation, a buccal (cheek) swab sent to your home, and results returned in 2–3 weeks.
Each result is discussed with a counsellor to explore options for increased screening, preventative treatment, or testing for family members.
With options for private cancer screening in the UK, particularly in London and other metropolitan areas, Jeen is expanding access to care that many individuals may not realise they’re eligible for on the NHS—or can’t access quickly enough through it.
Turning Potential Into Practice
The NHS’s investment in genomic innovation like liquid biopsies is a welcome sign that personalised cancer care is becoming the norm, not the exception.
But for that promise to reach everyone, it must include proactive testing, not just reactive treatment.
With platforms like Jeen, clinically validated tools and expert support are now available at home—offering a new standard in private genetic testing for cancer and screening.
To learn more about Jeen’s cancer testing services, visit jeen.health
