Wednesday 19 October 2022 12:10 AM Four-in-one cancer test... by taking a swab of your cervix! trends now
A new test that can spot cervical cancer years before it happens could transform screening for four cancers, scientists say.
A study found it was able to detect more than half of women whose screening results came back normal but went onto to develop signs of cancer in the next four years.
Experts believe the test — which can also pick up DNA markers for other cancers — could be used to predict breast, womb, cervical and ovarian cancer within years — all from the same swab.
A study found it was able to detect more than half of women whose screening results came back normal but went onto to develop signs of cancer in the next four years. Experts believe the test – which can also pick up DNA markers for other cancers – could be used to predict breast, womb, cervical and ovarian cancer within years – all from the same swab. Stock
It has the potential to save thousands of women from undergoing gruelling cancer treatments and painful biopsies by flagging those at most risk before cancer develops.
It would also spell the end of mammograms, traditionally used to screen women over-50 for breast cancer.
The new test looks at DNA methylation — an extra layer on top of DNA which tells cells what their specific function is.
By studying this using cervical swabs, scientists found changes to cells can be spotted well before they become cancerous.
Under current screening, women are tested for human papillomavirus (HPV) – the virus responsible for 99 per cent of cervical cancer cases.
The samples of those who test positive are then checked under the microscope for cell changes that could become cancerous.
Researchers looked at 1,254 cervical screening samples from women with cell changes ranging from lower to high risk, women with HPV but no cervical cell changes, and samples from women without any cervical cell changes who went on to develop high-risk cell changes within four years.
For those without cell changes but who had HPV, it detected 55 per cent of people who would have cell changes in the next four years.
It also performed better than currently available methods for detecting those with advanced cell changes who need treatment, according to
