June 1, 2009

Lung cancer test could save lives

Researchers in the UK have developed a simple blood test that could save the lives of thousands of people; test is believed to be the first to be able to detect lung cancer.

The test is able to detect the presence of certain proteins in the blood, which are only produced when lung cancer cells are present in the blood stream. They appear a long while before a tumour has had time to develop and therefore gives the patient a head start in getting the right treatment.

With over forty thousand people being diagnosed with the disease each year, it is clear how this test would be able to help many of these patients get the right treatment before the disease has had a chance to get established.

Source [Daily Mail]