New Blood Test for Cancer

Synthroid Cytomel
Synthroid Cytomel Member Posts: 10
edited March 2014 in Thyroid Cancer #1
There is a new blood test for cancer under development and in use in a few places. Someday, we might not have to have I131 scans anymore (wheeeeee!)...

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=132608325

Comments

  • nasher
    nasher Member Posts: 505 Member
    #2
    yes and no
    from what i have read of the test it will not detect thyroid cancer untill it is ready to metastasized. some other cancers will be able to be found earlier..

    yes it sounds like a wonderfull thing its just not a outstanding win but will save so much for lots of cancers...

    wonder how much the test is going to cost
  • Synthroid Cytomel
    Synthroid Cytomel Member Posts: 10
    #3
    nasher said:

    yes and no
    from what i have read of the test it will not detect thyroid cancer untill it is ready to metastasized. some other cancers will be able to be found earlier..

    yes it sounds like a wonderfull thing its just not a outstanding win but will save so much for lots of cancers...

    wonder how much the test is going to cost

    Cost
    The TV story said the patent-holders and manufacturer were trying to figure out how to mass produce the test, so it makes sense that the test would cost less than the methods currently used for diagnosis and screening.

    I think the researchers are going to find the test is good for all cancer because cancer cells are identifiable with respect to the primary tumor. Ultimately long-term studies will determine whether or not the test improves long-term survival and/or payient quality of life enough to make the test worthwhile.
  • CherylMike
    CherylMike Member Posts: 118
    #4
    Synthroid Cytomel said:

    Cost
    The TV story said the patent-holders and manufacturer were trying to figure out how to mass produce the test, so it makes sense that the test would cost less than the methods currently used for diagnosis and screening.

    I think the researchers are going to find the test is good for all cancer because cancer cells are identifiable with respect to the primary tumor. Ultimately long-term studies will determine whether or not the test improves long-term survival and/or payient quality of life enough to make the test worthwhile.

    Good for judging if treatment was working
    The news reported that this test is also good to determine if your treatment protocal was working. If it was not, the doctors would know right away to try a different course of treatment. This gives the advantage of less time wasted.
  • Synthroid Cytomel
    Synthroid Cytomel Member Posts: 10
    #5
    CherylMike said:

    Good for judging if treatment was working
    The news reported that this test is also good to determine if your treatment protocal was working. If it was not, the doctors would know right away to try a different course of treatment. This gives the advantage of less time wasted.

    Less Pain and Suffering, Too
    If the blood test reveals whatever treatment being used is not working, there will be less pain and suffering because the treatment can be terminated in favor of something else, rather than having to complete the entire course of treatment, along with the treatment-related pain and suffering, and the stress, and anxiety of having to wait to find out if the treatment is working ;-)

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