FEARS have been raised that a fast-track test for the spread of breast cancer might soon no longer be available to patients across North Wales.

The NICE-approved one step nucleic-acid amplification (OSNA) testing method – which indicates whether cancer cells have spread from the breast to lymph nodes in the armpits and is not yet widely available across the NHS – was introduced on a trial basis in the region in 2015. Since then, more than 100 breast cancer patients in North Wales have benefitted from it.

The test is recommended as an option for patients with early invasive breast cancer. It gives results of lymph node biopsies in 20 to 30 minutes and can help avoid the need for a second operation as well as allow treatments such as chemotherapy to be started earlier.

The Rhuddlan-based Treasure Chest Breast Cancer Support Group, which raise funds to support the breast cancer unit at Glan Clwyd Hospital, has now raised concerns over proposals to stop the use of the OSNA system and return to ‘pathological’ testing.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) said the service was running on a trial basis at Glan Clwyd Hospital and would continue to be available “at least until March 2019”.

It is not known what provisions will be in place after that time.

Mai Solomon, chair of the support group, said: “In 2013, NICE [The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence] approved and recommended the use of the OSNA system during breast cancer surgery.

“This enables surgeons to know how invasive the cancer surgery should be. The machine costs £18,500 rental per annum and 26 hospital in Britain use this system.

“A business case study was carried out at Glan Clwyd Hospital resulting in a proposal to stop the use of the OSNA system and return to pathological testing as done previously.

“Biopsies sent on to the pathological laboratory for testing takes one to three weeks for the results. This leaves surgeons and patients waiting anxiously, not knowing whether the cancer has been removed. In the past, this has led to further surgery on some patients – at what cost?”

The group claim that the OSNA system is being stopped due to funding.

Ms Solomon added: “What is the logic of saving the ONSA funding and returning to the previous slower pathological testing which would require more highly qualified pathologists and staff. The likely necessity of possible second operations with the associated risk of complications, all of which will require funding. The effects of diagnosis and management could have an adverse outcome, including early death.”

Former Vale of Clwyd MP Dr James Davies, who is currently working as GP in Rhyl said: “Glan Clwyd Hospital seem to have been ahead of the curve on this one to be fair however, the Breast Cancer Support Group is quite right in fighting its corner.

“The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) report that the OSNA test is currently used during breast cancer surgery in around a quarter of hospitals.

“Glan Clwyd is to be praised for having previously adopted this relatively new testing method, with the aiming of minimising the need for further surgery and avoiding delay in the commencement of any necessary chemotherapy.

“I understand that national collection of data on the use of OSNA is ongoing and it would be disappointing if Glan Clwyd could not continue to play a role in confirming the value of the procedure.

“Many local breast cancer patients will want to continue to benefit from OSNA, bearing in mind the promised benefits and the likelihood that it will become universally recommended in due course.”

A BCUHB spokesman said: “This relatively-new test is not currently widely available across the NHS and is not routinely offered as part of core breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in North Wales.

“Recently, there were some delays in the procurement processes to continue this service, which created concern regarding maintaining the testing equipment at the Glan Clwyd Hospital site.

“These have now been resolved and the service will continue to be available at least until March 2019.

“While this has been running to date on a trial basis, we are working closely with the testing system provider to adopt this technology on a sustainable basis.”

Vale of Clwyd MP Chris Ruane said: “Both Ann Jones AM and I were contacted by concerned constituents in relation to this issue.

“It was raised with Betsi Cadwaladr and I am pleased that, for the time being, the matter has been addressed.

“I will, however, be looking into what provision will be in place following March 2019.”