Cancer testing offered to Jewish women

TORONTO, May 24 (UPI) -- Canadian experts say they are offering a free test to Jewish women to determine if they have a strong chance of getting ovarian and breast cancers.

Women's College Research Institute experts in Toronto said the test helps identify three mutated breast cancer genes frequently found in Ashkenazi Jewish people, the Toronto Globe and Mail reported Saturday.

One of every 44 Ashkenazi Jewish people has the genetic mutation, said Steven Narod of the of Toronto's Women's College Research Institute.

It is reported the test was made available Thursday in Ontario to adult Jewish women who do not have a record of breast or ovarian cancers in their families.

Adult Jewish females who have yet to be tested and whose relatives have had breast or ovarian cancers can also take the test, the Globe and Mail said.