Cancer blood test ‘enormously exciting’

[Northerner]

Scientists have taken a step towards one of the biggest goals in medicine - a universal blood test for cancer.

A team at Johns Hopkins University has trialled a method that detects eight common forms of the disease.

Their vision is an annual test designed to catch cancer early and save lives. UK experts said it was "enormously exciting".

However, one said more work was needed to assess the test's effectiveness at detecting early-stage cancers.

Tumours release tiny traces of their mutated DNA and proteins they make into the bloodstream.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-42736764

 

[mikeyB]

This is tremendous news for those unfortunate enough to develop ‘hidden’ or asymptomatic cancer such as ovary and pancreas. I hope the cost will be such that the tests can be as routine as a full blood count. Many lives would be saved.

 

[pottersusan]

This is tremendous news for those unfortunate enough to develop ‘hidden’ or asymptomatic cancer such as ovary and pancreas. I hope the cost will be such that the tests can be as routine as a full blood count. Many lives would be saved.

I totally agree. it's the 'hidden' ones that need to be found. They also need more publicity.

 

[trophywench]

.... however they did say though it detected the cancers that had really got going (cos they used diagnosed cancer patients) it wasn't very good at detecting 'early stage' cancers.

 

[Hepato-pancreato]

Highly emotive subject cancer. I hate it and all the business surrounding it. Cancer conspiracies say it was cured years ago! But it’s not economically viable if it were. Imagine the cost if everyone survived cancer!
My mum had cancer at 88. The cancer didn’t kill her the treatment did. Chemo killed her. 2 weeks it took for that poison to work. She would’ve lasted another 12 months without it. Same as everything when a wonderdrug becomes available it’s to expensive. Postcode nhs again. If everyone lived till they were 100 the country would be bankrupt.

 

[mikeyB]

You’re right, there HP. The older you are, the slower a cancer grows. Chemotherapy works best in fast growing tumours. So it’s almost bound to cause more harm than good in the old.