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Cancer is one of the top 10 causes of death globally, and in the US, the disease is ranked second, just behind heart disease in overall fatalities. Cancer develops when cells start dividing unnaturally, to the point that they form big masses or tumors. These clumps of out-of-control cells are adept at redirecting blood supply and nutrients to themselves and increasing their growth.
When tumor cells break away from the main site and spread to other parts of the body, the condition is called metastasis, as the wandering cells start forming tumors all over the body. As tumors compete with organs for nutrients, the organs eventually lose the battle and start to shut down. This is how cancer kills.
But metastasis does not happen until the later stages in the disease, except in rare cases of fast-spreading cancers. If cancer is diagnosed in the early stages, tumors can be contained and removed before they spread to the rest of the body. A course of radiation or chemotherapy can kill off any traces of cancer cells and the patient goes into remission.
The problem lies in the early detection of cancer. Often, by the time symptoms like extreme weight loss, blood in urine, swollen lymph nodes, lumps in the breast, and so on are detected, the cancer has already advanced. This is why a comprehensive cancer screening test is vital even before the symptoms are noticed.
The problem with cancer lies in its early detection. Often, by the time symptoms like extreme weight loss, blood in urine, swollen lymph nodes, lumps in the breast, and other possible signs are detected, the cancer has already advanced. This is why a comprehensive cancer blood test is vital even before the symptoms are noticed.
Blood testing for cancer is especially important for people who have a history of the disease in the family. Patients who are in remission are given a schedule by their doctor of how often they need to get screened to check for a recurrence of the disease. But people who have never had cancer usually don’t think of getting a check-up. And with so many types of cancer, it can be difficult to know what to look for and how many tests to get done.
Luckily, eight types of cancer can be detected using a single sample of blood, as they have markers that show up relatively early and are present in the bloodstream. One sample of blood can be used to test for all eight of these cancers and either rule out their presence or detect those that have developed. A cancer blood test is a good place to start for people who want to undergo annual cancer screening.
The proliferation of cancer cells is brought about by mutated DNA. Fragments of the erroneous DNA and certain proteins get released into the bloodstream as the tumors start to grow. Some of these proteins include antigens released by the tumor. A total of 16 gene mutations and a number of proteins related to cancer can be identified from the blood. Each of these proteins corresponds to a different type of cancer, making it possible to identify all eight types of cancer using just one blood sample.
Cancer blood tests can also be performed to detect circulating tumor cells (CTCs), which are another indicator of malignant cells in the body. The cells that are identified in the blood can be used to trace back to where they originated from and find the part of the body where the tumor might be.
These are the eight cancers that have specific protein markers in the blood that help in a diagnosis using a cancer blood test:
At Personalabs, we have highly sophisticated and accurate blood tests to screen for cancers. If you’re concerned that you might be at high risk, you can order a cancer blood test from us to put your mind at ease. We don’t need a doctor’s order and you can rest assured that your results are 100% confidential.
We also provide online medical assistance if you need help in interpreting the results or wish to consult with a doctor. What you do with your results once we’ve delivered them is completely at your discretion. Contact us to learn more about our lab testing services.
We now offer pharmacy discounts through our PersonalabsRx platform.
We now offer pharmacy discounts through our PersonalabsRx platform.