New blood test may speed up diagnosis of 50 cancer types, study says

Groundbreaking Blood Test Could Revolutionize Cancer Diagnostics, Study Finds

A new blood test has shown promising results in identifying cancerous DNA fragments that have broken off from tumors and are circulating in the bloodstream. The test, known as Galleri, has been developed by American pharmaceutical firm Grail and is currently being trialed by the NHS.

The study, which followed 25,000 adults in North America over a year, found that nearly one in 100 tested positive for cancer, with an impressive 62% of these cases later confirmed. The test was able to detect fragments of DNA from more than 50 types of cancer, including three-quarters that do not have any screening program.

The Galleri test works by detecting the presence of cancer-specific DNA fragments in blood samples, which can be used to identify the type and origin of cancer. In nine out of 10 cases, the test correctly identified the origin of the cancer.

While the results are exciting, scientists caution that further research is needed to determine whether the test reduces deaths from cancer. The NHS will soon begin a three-year trial involving 140,000 patients in England, with the aim of extending the test to an additional one million people if successful.

The potential impact of this test cannot be overstated, as many cancers are currently diagnosed at advanced stages when treatment options are limited. Early detection through screening programs can significantly improve treatment outcomes and survival rates.

However, there is also a risk of overdiagnosis, where cancerous tumors are detected that may not have caused harm or will not progress to life-threatening disease. It's essential that further research focuses on determining the benefits and risks of this test in reducing mortality from cancer.

As Dr Nima Nabavizadeh, lead researcher, emphasized, "This data shows us that we can fundamentally change our approach to cancer screening." If successful, the Galleri test could revolutionize the way cancer is diagnosed and treated, offering new hope for patients and their families.

this is literally amazing news! a blood test that can detect cancer from anywhere in the body? it's like something out of a sci-fi movie imagine being able to catch cancer so early you're not even aware you have it, before it spreads. and with all these types of cancer it can detect, the potential impact on mortality rates is huge just think about how many lives this could save. and the fact that it's already showing 62% accuracy rate in its trial? game changing

I don’t usually comment but... this blood test thing sounds crazy - nearly one in 100 people testing positive for cancer? that's wild! I mean, it’s not all good news though, they need to figure out the risks of overdiagnosis too. But if it can catch cancers early enough, it could be a game changer . My aunt had breast cancer like 5 years ago and she was diagnosed pretty late... this test might have caught it sooner. Not sure about the NHS trial yet but I’m intrigued

I'm not convinced this blood test is a game-changer just yet... I mean, think about it, 25k people in one study doesn't exactly make it a huge sample size right? And what's the catch? These DNA fragments could be from like, benign tumors or something. Can we really trust that this test can spot the bad stuff and not just give us false positives? Not to mention all those types of cancer it says it can detect... how do they even verify that? It sounds like a lot of hype to me

You know what's wild? I was at this food festival last weekend and they had these crazy delicious vegan mac 'n cheese bites . I mean, who knew plant-based food could be so comforting?! Anyway, back to cancer research... it's awesome that they're working on more tests like Galleri. But can we talk about the benefits of having an extra year to enjoy your favorite snacks? Like, what's a good way to balance life and health goals? Should we prioritize early detection or just focus on enjoying life

I just read about this new blood test that's supposed to be a game-changer for cancer diagnostics , and I gotta say, it's like they're finally getting close to something. As a parent, you want to do everything you can to protect your little ones from the worst-case scenario when it comes to cancer . The fact that this test can detect fragments of DNA from over 50 types of cancer is mind-blowing . But at the same time, I'm a bit worried about all these new screening programs they're going to start. What if we end up overdiagnosing and putting unnecessary stress on our families? It's like, yeah, let's find ways to make this test better so it can actually help people, not just create more anxiety for everyone involved .

I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS BREAKTHROUGH IN CANCER DIAGNOSTICS!!! THE IDEA OF BEING ABLE TO DETECT CANCER AT AN EARLY STAGE AND CATCH IT BEFORE IT SPREADS IS TRULY LIFE-CHANGING. I MEAN, THINK ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE WHO COULD BENEFIT FROM THIS TEST - THE ONES WHO CURRENTLY GET DIAGNOSED WITH ADVANCED CANCER AND HAVE LIMITED TREATMENT OPTIONS.

I DO WORRY THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME RISK OF OVERDIAGNOSIS, BUT I TRUST THAT SCIENTISTS WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE RESULTS AND MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT CAUSING MORE HARM THAN GOOD. BUT overall, THIS IS SUCH A GAME-CHANGER AND I'M SO GLAD TO SEE RESEARCHERS WORKING TIRELESSLY TO FIND NEW WAYS TO HELP PEOPLE!

OMG, I'm so hyped about this new blood test ! It's like, a game changer for cancer diagnostics, you feel? The fact that it can detect cancer-specific DNA fragments in blood samples is mind-blowing . And the stats are insane – 62% of cases were confirmed and 9/10 times it correctly identified the origin of cancer .

But, like, let's not get ahead of ourselves . We need to make sure this test is safe and effective for everyone. Overdiagnosis is a real concern, and we need to figure out how to balance benefits with risks . Still, I'm super optimistic about the potential impact of this test. It could be the key to catching cancer at an early stage and saving lives .

I just hope the NHS trial goes smoothly and we get to see some amazing results soon . And can you imagine if this tech gets adopted worldwide? It would be a total revolution in cancer treatment !

I'm getting hyped about this new blood test, it's like something straight out of a sci-fi movie! Imagine being able to detect cancer in its earliest stages just by looking at your blood - it's like having a superpower! But, I do have some concerns too, what if it's not as accurate as they think and it starts giving false positives? I mean, who wants to be stuck with a bunch of unnecessary tests and treatments? Still, the potential benefits are huge, especially for people who wouldn't normally get screened because their cancer type isn't common. Maybe we'll finally see some real progress in cancer research... let's keep our fingers crossed!

this is massive! if it works like they say i guess millions of people could be saved from all that chemo & radiation crap

omg you guys i just got my galleri test done last week and i'm FREAKING OUT!! they said i had like 3 types of cancer in my blood lol idk what it means but the doc told me its all good anyway i was thinking about this new test and how amazing it would be to catch cancer earlier...like as early as next year maybe? wouldn't that be something?! also can we talk about how much money this could save us in healthcare costs?? like we could use the funds for actual help instead of just testing