Breast cancer typing
Each breast cancer is unique. Breast cancer typing can identify the differences between tumours, allowing The London Clinic to offer our patients customised care.
Quick facts
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What is it for?
Identify the differences between tumours
Treatment overview
Techniques for the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of breast cancer have become more sophisticated.
The London Clinic offers special tests to look at groups of genes in the tumours.
Breast cancer typing or gene expression profiling (GEP) can predict how likely a particular cancer is to grow and spread, enabling our consultants to plan the very best treatment for each individual cancer.
The London Clinic offers investigations and tests for breast cancer in a private, comfortable and stress-free environment.
Our world-leading specialists will provide you with the information and support you need to fully understand the tests and the implications of the results.
Understanding your investigation
Gene expression profiling (GEP) is a method of looking at cancer cells and analysing the activity of certain genes.
This can help predict the behaviour of the cancer, including the likelihood that it will grow rapidly and spread to other parts of the body.
The tests can be done on core biopsies, which are performed under local anaesthetic in the clinic. However, they are often carried out on sections from the tumour, after it has been removed.
This allows your consultant to plan whether any further treatment after surgery would be valuable.
It is important to understand that gene expression profiling (GEP) is not the same as genetic testing.
Genetic testing focuses on conditions that run in some families. For breast cancer, this involves looking for the faulty genes BRCA1 and BRCA2, which may be linked to cancer in around 1 in 20 women.
Why choose The London Clinic
Excellence in one place
We operate as teams of experts with world-class resources dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of medical care. You are surrounded by the latest treatments and advice with everything you need to get back to your best health.
Personal care, every time
Exceptional patient care is a way of life for us. Our nurses, clinicians and support teams are dedicated to the care of a very small number of patients, so have more time for you. They’ll be with you every step of the way, tailoring your care around you and giving the peace-of-mind that comes with knowing you’re in the best hands.
Effortlessly simple
We work together as one to guide you through each step of your experience, with complexities unravelled and answers readily to hand. Your personal treatment plan will be laid out for you, with all the details taken care of so you can focus on you.
What's included in your package?
Choosing The London Clinic means your treatment plan will be laid out for you, with all the details taken care of so you can focus on you.
Your treatment package will include:
- Enhanced pre-admission assessment
- Your treatment with our complete care team at your fingertips
- Personalised aftercare and follow-up
We want you to be in control of your health. That’s why we also offer optional services such as comprehensive recovery packages and extra touches for you to choose from during your stay with us.
How to pay
- You can use private medical insurance (PMI) to access this treatment. We work with all major PMI providers in the UK and many internationally
- You can pay for yourself (self-pay)
- If you’re paying for yourself, we have finance options available with Chrysalis
FAQs
The London Clinic offers two of the latest methods of breast cancer typing:
EndoPredict
The EndoPredict® test looks at the activity of eight different genes within a tumour sample.
The test then uses the information, alongside the size of the tumour and their nodal status (whether or not the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes) to give a score estimating the risk of the breast cancer spreading to other organs - where it becomes incurable – in the next ten years.
Oncotype DX
The Oncotype DX® test looks at 21 genes within the cancer cells, it is usually used in the assessment of intermediate cancers.
It is carried out on the cancer after it has been removed by your surgeon. The sample is sent to a dedicated laboratory in the USA, for specialist analysis.
A Recurrence Score is calculated, and given as a number between 0 and 100. A high number indicates a greater risk of the disease returning.
The results of breast cancer typing are sent to your specialist within 10–14 days. You will be given an appointment to discuss the results.
At this stage, your consultant will explain the findings of the analysis and the implications for your health.
A treatment programme can then be planned, always bearing in mind your feelings, opinions and general health.