TEST TO PICK UP BREAST CANCER 5 YEARS EARLY

Scientists have created a blood test that identifies breast cancer long before symptoms start to show. Dr C feels optimistic about it

Breast cancer cells produce chemicals called antigens, which trigger an immune response, so this blood test checks for those – and it picks them up five years before a lump would appear. It was so successful that it could be available within four years.

IMPRESSIVE RESULTS

They took blood samples from 90 newly diagnosed patients and compared them with samples from 90 people without breast cancer. They correctly found breast cancer in 37 per cent of the recently diagnosed patients, and rightly showed no signs of the disease in 79 per cent of those who were cancer-free. That may not sound that impressive, but it is. There were only 180 people in the study, so now they will test samples from 800 patients, which will really improve accuracy. It’s a brilliant breakthrough, makes total sense as a method to spot the illness, plus it would be an easier, less invasive and more comfortable way to test for it – and for those in remission, it would pick up returning cancer far sooner, too.

STILL CHECK YOURSELF

There are lots of different types of breast cancer, and I suspect this test is just looking for certain types, because your immune system responds differently depending on the type of breast cancer.

That’s why mammograms are so effective now and will probably continue to be – it doesn’t matter what form of breast cancer a patient has, the mammogram will see it.

These researchers are working on similar tests for pancreatic, colorectal and liver cancers, and there’s a big trial in Scotland involving 12,000 people for a similar test that identifies lung cancer, so blood tests are a very promising area of medical research. These cancers right now are only detected once there is a lump.

If you identify cancer before getting to that stage – which these tests should do – it will improve survival rates, because the earlier you catch it, the easier it is to treat.

ATTEND SCREENINGS

This is a few years away so, for now, carry on as normal with monthly self-breast checks, looking for any changes in your breasts and nipples, checking right up your armpits with your arms lifted – looking not just for lumps but skin changes and discharge too. And everyone aged 50-70 should attend mammogram appointments. If you’re asked to join these trials, do. You could help save lives.