Early Detection Saves Lives
According to scientists, ultra-sensitive blood tests have the potential to save lives by identifying if breast cancer is likely to return years in advance. These tests can pinpoint tumour DNA in cells left behind after treatment, which conventional follow-up scans often miss due to their low quantity.
Precise and Effective
The blood tests, which are said to be up to 100 times more precise, have shown promising results in a study involving 78 women recovering from breast cancer. The tests correctly identified all those who would relapse, providing an early warning up to 41 months before any clinical signs appeared. Notably, none of those who tested negative experienced a relapse.
Hope for At-Risk Patients
Doctors believe that these early warnings could lead to timely intervention and treatment for at-risk patients, potentially preventing the recurrence of breast cancer. Around three in ten women treated for breast cancer face a second battle with the disease, which is often incurable.
Significant Findings
Study author Dr Isaac Garcia-Murillas from the Institute of Cancer Research in London expressed that these blood tests could revolutionize the long-term monitoring of high-risk cancer patients. Dr Simon Vincent from charity Breast Cancer Now, which funded the study, emphasized the importance of early detection in the fight against breast cancer, as around 11,000 people die from secondary breast cancer in the UK annually.
