Theres a new simple blood test that can detect many forms of can

muffy :

That's called avoidance!

elguapo :
Can you expeess those thoughts clearly? Please.

MissAmericanPie :
Yes, I would be willing to take the test. Cancer runs in my family, and I would like to get an idea of what to potentially prepare for. I cannot, however, afford the cost of the test. I don't understand why a "simple blood test" should cost so much, or that insurance won't cover it.

MissAmericanPie : Thanks for responding. I think he should go ahead and do it. The test is just for melanoma. His Dr. at MDA is the one who suggested it. It is good to know ahead of time so you can take early action. I remember his passing but I didn't know BrendaT's SIL died from that.

UptownGirl : I am sure there is a chance of false results.

TEXASGIRLMAMMA : There was an article recently that a company that does colon cancer test was incorrect close to 9% of the time. Not good.

UptownGirl : Yes, It is ColoGaurd. My sister used it and had a false positive. She had to have a colonoscopy to find out it was wrong. It caused her unnecessary anxiety.

TEXASGIRLMAMMA : Yes that is the company. They should be shut down.

UptownGirl : I agree! The Dr. told my sister that their false reports are way too high and he hates that company. They miss a lot of cancers.

So if he takes the test and it comes back positive, that he IS predisposed to melanoma BUT he does not have it yet, then what? Just watch and wait? Which is what he would do anyway, right?

The cost need to come down so that the test is more affordable for the rest of us.

Well if one is forewarned I guess one can avoid doing what could precipitate the onset of the disease. But it would have to be very accurate as regards being predisposed to these genetic risks because until CRISPR becomes an everyday financial possibility the only way not to pass it on is to avoid having children altogether.

I might do it once and then every 10-15 years depending on what the results are. Especially if it can detect ovarian cancer.

Sunnycl : It's about catching it EARLY so you can survive. Stage 1 cancer is not the challenge Stage 4 is, when many people discover it and it's spreading already.

MissAmericanPie : I think it is great they have the test. If I had symptoms, and doctors recommended the test to me, I would have it and U'd gladly pay for it to find out if I had cancer. I think the biggest issue is that the cancers that are almost always found too late may not have bad symptoms early on. I have lost 3 friends to pancreatic cancer, all of them in their 50's-60's and in "good health". Their symptoms appeared when they were well into Stage 3....and they all passed away within 18 months of diagnosis.
I am hopeful it will be useful for people who normally won't see doctors, for young people who ignore symptoms and perhaps for children who cannot articulate a problem.