Blood test available

cp418

Blood test available

cp418

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/105868.php

TenderIsOurMight

This is sad to me. A potentially good idea shrouded in mystery by the company, Provista Life Sciences. Founded in 2006 in Phoenix Arizona, its goal is to use blood biomarkers to assist in the early detection of disease, including breast cancer.



Problem is though, there are no known early detection biomarkers for breast cancer that have been clinically approved as yet. Ca 15-3, Ca27-29, the blood markers we have the most experience with, have been shown to be not constant in non and early breast cancer states and hence not valuable in this task. Nor has Mammoglobin protein as yet, a protein also found circulating in breast cancer patients' blood. HER2/neu-extracellular domain may have promise, yet as yet is not utilized as screening for breast cancer.



If you go to their website, and search the back corners, you find the following:



1. The company does not even specify which blood biomarkers they are analyzing in your blood test. Any legitimate company states up front what their test consists of: you and I are knowledgeable enough, along with our doctors, to comprehend a breast cancer blood biomarker and decide if it is truly sensitive and specific to early breast cancer detection. Much has been written on this and much study done. What is there to hide in not specifying the blood proteins?



2. The company makes reference to their performance of a clinical study affirming the value of their blood biomarker test. They offer no reading of this study, no citation, no place of publication for the world of scientists, clinicians and patients alike to critically review their findings. Why no concrete back up for what they say they did?



3. Lastly, they say they are a CLIA approved laboratory which is the basic minimum for any lab. Yet they do not say their BT Test (TM) is FDA approved. That's because it is not.



The day when a simple blood test is found which detects early breast cancer will be a day scientists, patients, doctors alike echo good tidings from the mountains. Sadly, this day is not here and mystery serves no one.



Please be aware of cloaks and daggers in breast cancer land offerings. True science is always out in the open, peer reviewed and accepted, and not baiting the hopes and fears of women and men.



Tender

cp418

Tender - Thank you very much for clarifying the details of this blood test.  Looks like another means to make money off patients.

Warning to all of us to RESEARCH all tests, methods, medications, procedures regarding our treatments.

Thank you again, Joann

otter

What would we do without Tender?

otter 

(Sorry, Tender, I didn't mean to embarrass you or anything.  It's just that your posts are so clear and helpful--they are greatly appreciated.)