New blood test may detect breast cancer spread

cp418

http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/blog/bal-breast-cancer-blood-test,0,1009915.story?track=rss

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-04-blood-recurrent-breast-cancers-response.html

farmerlucy

Thanks cp! I so appreciate all your updates! I'm not so sure I'd want to have this test though. Ignorance is bliss??

MakeLemonade

so glad to read this... Have been thinking that I wish there was some sort of test to catch this stiff SOONER. Seems like, in a lot of cancers, by the time it is detectable it is sometimes too late. Wouldn't it be great if a blood test like this could be part of a regular screening so that something could be done sooner. 

AmyQ

I think the more we learn about this insidious disease, the better and if a blood test can detect spread, I would hope eventually it will unlock a cure.  I am all for knowing as much as possible as soon as possible.  Thanks for posting this. It makes me hopeful.

Amy

wallycat

In theory, this is great, but........

my former onco in WI said that detecting a recurrence within 6-9 months does not alter survival...

Even if you know you have a recurrence, you need to know WHERE it is and HOW to treat it.

Unless they can DO something, do I want to know?  Quality of life and all that...similar to early Alzheimer's detection...at this stage, not much can be done.

MsPharoah

CP418, thanks for the links.  I feel somewhat like farmerlucy.  I am currently having my CA27-29 tested every 3 months and haven't had an abnormal result.....yet!  It would be nice to have a test that is 95% accurate; at least if I had a normal result with the new test, I would be more comfortable than I am now.  Sign me up!

MsP

mary625

I wonder how long it will take for this test to be available to patients and/or for insurance companies to authorize it.  I really want to have better surveillance than I'm getting.  Stage IIIC and I can't get a scan or tumor marker test in my area--have to travel completely across country to get them.