Women can expect a simple breast cancer blood test to come soon if a few clinical trials by the NHS show promising results. If this test comes through, it’ll be a huge relief for women who have to undergo invasive procedures to get themselves tested for the ailment.
According to a report published in The Times, the blood test can identify a variety of mutations in advanced breast cancer and reliably match women to targeted treatments, according to early results from the Institute of Cancer Research and the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. It also states that the latest plasma MATCH trial has provided the strongest evidence which shows that simple blood tests known as liquid biopsies can track breast cancer as it develops, and help to direct patients to the most effective treatments. The NHS is waiting for the test to be approved but it can take months or may be a few years to get a green light.
