Find the safest cancer test method ever

Until now, the only method to test cancer was a biopsy. But now, just testing blood can do.

So far, blood tests are still one of the least damaging methods to the body, yet still allow the doctor to know what the body is having.

But cancer is different, blood tests won't work at all. Although in fact, tumors can mix into the blood, but this is rare and difficult to identify. Therefore, the only method to identify cancer is to take tissue for biopsy.

Cancer cell.

However, a recent breakthrough in gene technology has brought hope to cancer testing by blood testing.

More specifically, in the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, scientists published a study of more than 15,000 people on more than 70 types of cancer genes.

Using technology to separate fragments of DNA from the blood and put them together, scientists can create a panorama of how the mutation mutates.

As a result, they will find an effective way to treat cancer, because many of the current anti-cancer drugs are very specific - only attack on mutant genes that cause cancer.

Now, blood tests can also identify cancer.

The results showed that two-thirds of patients contained mutant genes that are consistent with current drugs. But in addition, researchers at the University of California Sandiego (USA) also compared the results of a patient's blood test and biopsy results. And surprisingly, up to 98% of the results matched.

This study is the most compelling result of blood test information that can be used to check for cancer.

Although current biopsies are the most effective way, this process, if done continuously, is not safe - because very deep needle will be used to get tissue - at the same time costly Huge cost.

To obtain biopsy tissue, doctors have to use a very deep needle into the body, for example, a liver biopsy needs to pierce the liver with a needle to get tissue.This process is considered to be relatively dangerous.

Meanwhile, blood tests are now able to monitor tumors, even knowing the cancer's metastasis and the case if the cancer becomes resistant to today's treatments.

However, the scientists did not advocate a complete replacement of the biopsy. Accordingly, the initial biopsy is still needed to determine the type of cancer and the location of the disease. However, the biopsy can then be completely replaced by a blood test.

Dr. Julie Vose, a lecturer in the Department of Medicine at the University of Nebraska Medicine: "Imagine this method will help monitor patients, while helping us change the direction of treatment if the cancer becomes mutated without having to Re-examination from the beginning ".

What is a biopsy?

A biopsy is a medical procedure in which a small sample of body tissue is removed for examination under a microscope. This tissue sample can be taken from any part of the body, including skin, internal organs and other structures.