Trucheck-intelli Cancer testing
Our Cancer Risk
Sadly, current evidence suggests that 1 in 2 people in the UK born after 1960 will have some sort of cancer in their lifetime. (Cancer Research UK. 2015) Contributory factors include genetic risk, increasing obesity, reduced exercise, smoking, alcohol and other dietary and environmental factors. Clearly, if we can detect these cancers early, then there is usually a far better chance of successful treatment.
Cancer Blood Test
The Trucheck-intelli simply consists of a blood test, taken at the surgery and analysed in a UKAS-accredited lab in Guildford, UK. Unlike most current 'tumour markers' (like PSA for Prostate cancer) this test actually looks for circulating cancer cells and can detect them for 70 solid tumours, even before any symptoms may have developed. It will not detect leukaemias, lymphomas, myelomas and certain other 'non-solid' cancers.
Who, How often, How much ??
Trucheck is available to any patient over 35yrs old, who has not previously had a diagnosis of cancer. It has an overall 88% Sensitivity across the 70 tumours screened (meaning that up to 12% of them can be missed), though the sensitivity is higher for the more common tumours (Bowel, Breast, Lung, Prostate). It has an overall specificity of nearly 98% (meaning that there are very few 'false positives' for any tumour type). Results are back in 2-3 weeks and the cost of the test, including a 30-min pre-test consultation with a Doctor is £1250. If a couple want to have the test and attend the pre-test consultation together, then the cost is £2350
Implications
During the pre-test consult, the Doctor will discuss the implications of a +ve result. Although the NHS is currently trialling a similar test (the Gallieri test), if a +ve result arises, then further testing may need to be done privately and for those who are medically insured, a discussion with the insurer would be wise. In some, rare cases, subsequent conventional tests have had to be repeated, as the amount of tumour detected by Trucheck can be so small as to not 'show up' at first.
It is sold as a "Yearly Cancer Test"... as it only detects tumours present... not those that have yet to develop...but the cost makes this prohibitive to many. Given that our cancer risk rises as we age, then we are suggesting that people could have it once in their 30's, twice in their 40's, every 2yrs in their 50s and yearly, if they can, beyond.