Blood test to replace mammo
Has anyone else heard or read about this? A research centre in England have successfully detected breast cancer using blood tests earlier than a mammogram would. They are currently doing further trial...
Forum Discussion
Just reading up on this again - it is now available for patients in the UK thru a trial - the blood test can detect CTC (Circulating Tumour Cells) MUCH earlier than Mammograms & Ultrasounds. ....
https://www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/trak-er
Waiting for something to become a major problem, costing even more to the patient AND the Gov ($$, physically and mentally) is totally STUPID. When a dedicated blood test will show if the cancer is active again EARLY ON for patients who've already had cancer - without having more invasive procedures and finding a more advanced cancer.
It makes sense to make this liquid blood test become available to all of those following initial cancer treatment, as it is a very valuable diagnostic tool for the patient's future.
It would be SO MUCH simpler & less invasive than biopsies & other methods currently being used, as by then, they already know that the tumour is further advanced than it needed to be. :( Sadly, we pay about $5,000 for 'regular' genome testing in Australia (and it is often sent to the USA for testing and also takes up to 2 months for results.) So ANY test that identifies early cancer activity should be embraced by all Country's medicos.
I've been reading about this test since back in 2019, shortly after I was diagnosed - (back then called CTC Circulating Tumour Cells) & only one laboratory in Melbourne was offering it ... and then not heard much more of it ever since. Back then, it was decided that it wasn't 'reliable' enough to be used as a regular diagnostic tool - but at least these clinical trials in the USA & UK should prove otherwise.
I honestly believe that, in time, a 'mini chemo' pill will be available to knock these floating cancer cells on the head, BEFORE they become tumours ...... HOW GOOD WOULD THAT BE?
It makes sense to make this available to all of those following cancer treatment, as it is a very valuable diagnostic tool - especially for those like us, who, after our initial diagnosis, surgery & treatment have some level of 'fear of recurrence' .... this could be a yearly test, saving the Gov money, longterm, as if it was negative - you possisbly wouldn't even need the MG or US!
It IS available in Aussie - with about a $550 gap ... but WORTH IT, I reckon!
https://www.clinicallabs.com.au/about-us/doctor-media-releases/aspect-liquid-biopsy-analysis-of-circulating-tumour-dna-ctdna-in-cancer-patients-national/
There are currently Trials in the USA - shame they don't seem to have them in Australia yet. :(
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04567420
Maybe @BCNA could add this one to the LOBBY LIST for future discussions with Gov?
https://www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/trak-er
Waiting for something to become a major problem, costing even more to the patient AND the Gov ($$, physically and mentally) is totally STUPID. When a dedicated blood test will show if the cancer is active again EARLY ON for patients who've already had cancer - without having more invasive procedures and finding a more advanced cancer.
It makes sense to make this liquid blood test become available to all of those following initial cancer treatment, as it is a very valuable diagnostic tool for the patient's future.
It would be SO MUCH simpler & less invasive than biopsies & other methods currently being used, as by then, they already know that the tumour is further advanced than it needed to be. :( Sadly, we pay about $5,000 for 'regular' genome testing in Australia (and it is often sent to the USA for testing and also takes up to 2 months for results.) So ANY test that identifies early cancer activity should be embraced by all Country's medicos.
I've been reading about this test since back in 2019, shortly after I was diagnosed - (back then called CTC Circulating Tumour Cells) & only one laboratory in Melbourne was offering it ... and then not heard much more of it ever since. Back then, it was decided that it wasn't 'reliable' enough to be used as a regular diagnostic tool - but at least these clinical trials in the USA & UK should prove otherwise.
I honestly believe that, in time, a 'mini chemo' pill will be available to knock these floating cancer cells on the head, BEFORE they become tumours ...... HOW GOOD WOULD THAT BE?
It makes sense to make this available to all of those following cancer treatment, as it is a very valuable diagnostic tool - especially for those like us, who, after our initial diagnosis, surgery & treatment have some level of 'fear of recurrence' .... this could be a yearly test, saving the Gov money, longterm, as if it was negative - you possisbly wouldn't even need the MG or US!
It IS available in Aussie - with about a $550 gap ... but WORTH IT, I reckon!
https://www.clinicallabs.com.au/about-us/doctor-media-releases/aspect-liquid-biopsy-analysis-of-circulating-tumour-dna-ctdna-in-cancer-patients-national/
There are currently Trials in the USA - shame they don't seem to have them in Australia yet. :(
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04567420
Maybe @BCNA could add this one to the LOBBY LIST for future discussions with Gov?