The cost of a blood test for cancer can vary depending on the test. With Galleri (brand name), it is a prescription-only liquid biopsy that can screen for more than 50 types of cancer and is 88% correct. It is recommended for adults age 50 and over who are at a higher risk of cancer.
The test looks for cancer signals in the DNA shed by tumors into the bloodstream and it can predict where the cancer is located. However, it doesn’t detect all cancers and should be used in addition to other screening tests. These tests are to be used for detecting cancer early when it can be treated. This discovery was announced on June 3, 2023.
In referencing this multi-cancer early detection test, “The Galleria ((MCED) tests is a new cancer screening test that can detect a shared cancer signal across fifty (50) types of cancer through a simple blood sample. The new MCED test can detect types of cancers that currently have no recommended screening tests. It can also alert persons to hard-to-detect, aggressive, and often fatal types of cancer like pancreatic, ovarian and esophageal cancers.
“The MCED test, which should be used together with the U. S. guideline-recommended annual cancer screenings, looks for signals in the bloodstream that may be linked to cancer. If a cancer signal is detected, the test can often pinpoint its origin in the body to help the care team develop the next steps for treatment or additional diagnostic testing,” wrote Mercy.net.
For further information and evaluation, some business employers also offer blood tests for cancer. Without any health insurance, check the local Health Department to see if there are any programs available. Using the Galleri blood test, individuals are self-paying. The $949 test price is not covered by most health insurance plans.
A few of the larger and more known cancers that are screened and can be detected by blood tests, include:
· Leukemia and Lymphoma
· Breast
· Uterus
· Ovary
· Head and Neck
· Kidney
· Liver
· Head and Neck
· Lung
· Melanoma
· Tumors of the colon and rectum
· Tumors of the pancreases
Age is the biggest risk factor for cancer. In fact, adults over age 50 are 13 times more likely to have cancer compared to persons under age 50.
With the blood-draw, if a cancer signal is detected, the test predicts the cancer’s signal origin – or the tissue or organ where the cancer signals originated – to help guide diagnostic evaluation.
Again, the test requires a prescription from a medical professional. It should be used in addition to mammography, colonoscopy, prostate specific antigen (PSA), or cervical cancer screening, all of which more easily detect cancer.
More than 70% of cancer deaths are caused by cancers without recommended screenings, wrote www.galleri.com. Today, there are several recommended cancer screening tests.
The Mayo Clinic wrote, “In most situations, a biopsy is the only way to determinedly diagnose cancer.” With confusing documentation, there is no copy date from the above statement and the development of the blood-cancer diagnostic.
To reiterate, this new “Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) test is a new cancer screening test that can detect a shared cancer signal across 50 types of cancer (a few are listed above) through a simple blood sample, " wrote www.mercy.net. The current statistics show: 600,000 persons die of cancer each year; only 1/3 of diagnosed cancers have recommended screening options; and most are detected in the late stage, limiting treatment options.
The average totals for all multi-cancer blood testing companies averages around $949 per blood draw.
Patients are advised to see their medical professional for further assistance and instructions.
