World-first melanoma blood test detects early stages of deadly skin cancer

[Equinox Moon]

Source: The Guardian

Australian scientists say test delivers a more accurate diagnosis than the human eye.
Australian scientists have developed the world’s first blood test to detect melanoma in its early stages.
The blood test works by detecting 10 combinations of protein autoantibodies produced by the body in response to melanoma.

“It’s critical that melanoma is diagnosed more accurately and early,” Ziman said. “So a blood test would help in that identification particularly at early stage melanoma, which is what is the most concerning and would be most beneficial for everybody if it was identified early.”

Melanoma is the fourth most common cancer in Australia and claims the lives of about 1,500 people each year. About 14,000 cases were diagnosed in 2017.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jul/18/world-first-melanoma-blood-test-detects-early-stages-of-deadly-skin-cancer

---

Way to go Aussies!




And, to our republican nay-sayers about science; YES, science is important and helpful.

[MarianJack]

1. This 30 year Melanoma survivor says...

...hurray!

RESIST!

[a kennedy]

2. Congratulations to you....30 years?? Wow.....

Wish my brother AND sister could have survived. But is just fantastic news........

[MarianJack]

8. Thank you,...

...and my condolences for your brother and sister. My little sister took her own life in early 1996. I still miss her every day. I think that there's something special about big brother/little sister relationships.

RESIST!

[lark]

6. This 16 year double Melanoma survivor is so happy!

Ive always been uncomfortable relying on "eye" test because dr. didn't note either of my melanoma's and I had to push that they had definitely changed a lot before they were biopsied and proved positive, but luckily both were level zero so I'm still here. Hopefully this will be more accurate and won't take weeks for the results.

[MarianJack]

7. Congrats to you!

RESIST!

[a kennedy]

9. Yes, yes, congratulations to you as well.......

It’s such a horrible cancer....ALL cancer sucks, but melanoma is one of the worst.

[elmac]

3. too bad no one will be able to afford it

when the fascist pigs kill ACA

[appalachiablue]

4. Isn't that the truth; only the well off, unless things change.

[a kennedy]

10. This is so true......and so unfair, but we all know, nothing is fair, but health

cures SHOULD ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE to everyone.

[TexasBushwhacker]

11. Don't be so sure

No doubt health insurance companies will do a cost-benefit analysis, but if the test can detect melanoma early enough that it could be treated with fairly conservative surgery and/or chemotherapy, it might be worth it. The alternative would be to not use the test, letting the cancer go undetected and spreading to other organs which would be much more costly to treat. The company who owns the patent to the test may try to price gouge, but it may be more lucrative for them to charge a reasonable amount and sell more tests.