New blood test can check for 13 types of cancers

the-japan-news.com ^ | 7:47 pm, July 24, 2017 | The Yomiuri Shimbun

[BenLurkin]

The new test utilizes microRNA (miRNA), a substance that is secreted from cells into the blood and regulates the movements of genes. Types of miRNA differ between cancer cells and normal cells, and they do not decompose for a certain period of time.

The team is composed of researchers from the center, Toray Industries Inc. — which has the testing technology — and other institutions. They succeeded in identifying miRNA specific to 13 kinds of cancers, such as breast, lung, stomach, colorectal, esophagus, liver and pancreatic cancers, from the preserved blood of about 40,000 patients, most of whom were cancer sufferers.

From a single drop of blood, the researchers could diagnose all the cancers, including relatively early stage 1 cancers, with more than 95 percent accuracy. Breast cancer was diagnosed with 97 percent accuracy.

However, the properties of miRNA could have changed in preserved blood. Therefore, in the planned clinical study, the research team will use fresh blood provided by about 3,000 people, including patients and healthy people.

[dhs12345]

Wow. Hang in there. There will be better treatments. I am just a little frustrated. But extremely thankful I am healthy.

A healthy immune system seems to be the key.

My wife and I are on a low carb diet and our health has improved greatly including and especially our immune systems. We had chronic issues and would be down with the flu at least twice a year each (that was with the shot). Our chronic problems are gone and we bypassed the flu all last year. Coincidence? I don't think so. So if we don't catch the flu and our chronic health issues are gone too then maybe we won't get cancer? That is the thought anyway.

Good luck and prayers to you FR Friend. :)