NHS launches trial of cancer blood test

Thousands of people will take part in an NHS trial for a simple blood test that can detect more than 50 types of cancer before symptoms appear.

TheGalleritestcandetect cancers that are not routinely screened for and can pinpoint where in the body the disease is coming from with a high degree of accuracy.

Catching cancer early is vital to people receiving prompt treatment and the test has the potential to save thousands of lives in the UK every year.

It works by looking for chemical changes in fragments of genetic code that leak from tumours into the bloodstream.

Thetestdoesnotdetectall cancersanddoesnotreplace NHSscreeningprogrammes, such as those for breast, cervical and bowel cancer.

As part of the NHS trial, which is the world's largest, bloodsampleswillbetakenat mobiletestingclinicsinretail parks and other community locations.

The NHS aims to recruit 140,000 volunteers in eight areas to see how well the test works in the health service. Letters are being sent to people from different backgrounds and ethnicities aged between 50 and 77 asking them to take part.

NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: "This quick and simple blood test could mark the beginning of a revolution in cancer detection and treatment here and around the world.

"The Galleri blood test, if successful, could play a majorpartinachievingourNHS long-term ambition to catch three-quarters of cancers at an early stage, when they are easiertotreat.Ifyouareinvited, please take part."