Could your annual checkup soon include a blood test for cancer?

Health care providers in the United States routinely screen for four different types of cancer: breast, colorectal, cervical, and high-risk lung cancer.

Unfortunately, these screenings only detect 14% of all cancers. As a result, many people do not know they have cancer until symptoms appear or until the disease reaches a later stage, limiting their treatment options.

Health experts and scientists are working to change that with the advent of multiple cancer early detection (MCED) tests.

How Multiple Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Tests Work

MCED testing allows healthcare providers to screen for biomarkers common to many cancers to help identify a wide range of cancers and subtypes, including “silent” cancers that are not routinely screened for.

These tests are complementary to routine screening – a tool to fill the gaps and expand the reach of current cancer screening – not to replace it, says Tomasz (Tom) Beer, MD, FACP, practicing oncologist and chief medical officer of Cancerguard, a first-of-its-kind MCED test.

An MCED test can help detect warning signs of cancer. You can work with your primary care provider or a telehealth provider to determine if an MCED test is right for you.

MCED tests are not covered by health insurance and can cost hundreds of dollars. However, for people with a family history or other risk factors for cancer, the direct cost may be worth it. Early detection of cancer expands treatment options and improves the chances of success.

Early detection and reliable results

In a test development study, Cancerguard’s MCED test identified one in three early-stage cancers, enabling early intervention and better outcomes.

“It’s not about a test or an innovation, it’s about people,” Beer said. His statement reflects the brand’s overarching goal: “to help eradicate cancer by preventing it, detecting it earlier and guiding personalized treatment.”

If you take an MCED test, you can expect to wait about two weeks to get your results. Once you receive them, you will work with a healthcare professional to interpret the results and discuss any necessary follow-up.

MCED testing is reliable and will provide a clear path for next steps, regardless of your test results.

“Cancerguard tests are designed to generate as few false positives as possible,” Beer said. The test has a specificity rate of 97.4%, meaning it correctly identifies negative results 97.4% of the time, limiting unnecessary worry or follow-up appointments.

The future of routine cancer screening

Experts are optimistic about the impact of MCED testing on the future of cancer screening. Although it’s not standard care, Beer encourages eligible people to take it every year to protect against cancer.

“This is a transformative moment and the future will be very different from the past,” Beer said, regarding the future of cancer screening. He likened it to the rise of cell phones or the Internet, predicting that in 10 years we will look back on this moment and wonder why we only detected four cancers.