Cancer New Blood Tests Promise to Detect Multiple Cancers

Eric

Eric

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Saw a report on the news about this and the doctor said this technology is making great strides at a faster pace than anyone anticipated.

  • Some companies now offer multi-cancer early detection tests designed to screen for multiple cancers at once.
  • So far, research hasn’t shown that these tests are consistently accurate, and more studies are needed.
  • Still, experts say they hold promise for detecting cancers that currently lack standard screening options.
 
Eric said:
Saw a report on the news about this and the doctor said this technology is making great strides at a faster pace than anyone anticipated.

  • Some companies now offer multi-cancer early detection tests designed to screen for multiple cancers at once.
  • So far, research hasn’t shown that these tests are consistently accurate, and more studies are needed.
  • Still, experts say they hold promise for detecting cancers that currently lack standard screening options.
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Yes, but will the US get it or will it be an evil thing that gets rejected?
 
fooferdoggie said:
Yes, but will the US get it or will it be an evil thing that gets rejected?
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My doctor will surely reject anything that isn't the "gold standard". Every time I hear about new treatments, even that are scientifically sound and proven, it gets shot down.
 
There are two multi-cancer detection tests being offered: Galleri, which looks for circulating DNA fragments that may indicate cancer, and CancerGuard, which also looks for abnormal proteins. In trials to date, Gallieri was much better at detecting stage III and IV cancers than stage I and II malignancies, and earlier detection is much more likely to make a clinical difference. This information is vital to decide if wide rollout is warranted from a public health perspective.

I think these tests show great promise and will become more sensitive and specific in the future, but they're not there yet.
 
Katbel said:
Could you change doctor?
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I'm sure I can as they seem to have a pretty easy policy on that with Kaiser. The question is whether or not I would get someone better or worse as it seems they overwork all of their doctors, mine told me they give her as much as she can possible handle. She's actually a really good doctor, just rigid in protocols with no interest in taking into account existing issues.
 
Eric said:
scientifically sound and proven
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Note that those two terms are not equivalent - you could even argue that nothing is ever "proven".
Many things are scientifically sound, i.e., they make sense based on what is known, but at least in biomedicine, "proof" is an evolving statistical concept that often takes years and fortunes to move to a level of certainty. And then, everyone's level of "acceptance" varies, e.g. how much discomfort (physical or financial) will you tolerate for something that is 50%, 75%, 95% certain?

Add in all the known and unknown motivations of the actors involved, you may want to throw up your hands. All I can suggest is to find out what you can, and discuss with people and experts you trust.
 
cbum said:
Note that those two terms are not equivalent - you could even argue that nothing is ever "proven".
Many things are scientifically sound, i.e., they make sense based on what is known, but at least in biomedicine, "proof" is an evolving statistical concept that often takes years and fortunes to move to a level of certainty. And then, everyone's level of "acceptance" varies, e.g. how much discomfort (physical or financial) will you tolerate for something that is 50%, 75%, 95% certain?

Add in all the known and unknown motivations of the actors involved, you may want to throw up your hands. All I can suggest is to find out what you can, and discuss with people and experts you trust.
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Yeah I probably could've chosen better wording here.
 
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