Annual multi-cancer early detection blood tests could spot cancer early and help more people survive cancer. The blood test looks for DNA fragments shed by tumors. Annual blood testing was associated with 49% fewer late-stage cancer diagnoses and 21% fewer deaths within five years.

Blood testing could spot cancer early, study says

If conducted every year or every other year, the multi-cancer early detection blood test could help more people survive cancer, researchers reported Thursday in BMJ Open.

The blood test looks for many different cancer-specific signals, including DNA fragments shed by tumors, researchers said.

The analysis showed that blood testing improved early diagnosis for a wide variety of cancers.

Compared with standard cancer screening, annual blood testing was associated with 49% fewer late-stage cancer diagnoses and 21% fewer deaths within five years, results show.

Here’s the link to the peer reviewed journal article:

https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/5/e086648