snip~
Unique cancer mutations show up in microscopic fragments of DNA in a patient's blood, which can give physicians a telltale sign of the presence of the disease in almost all types of cancer mutations — within cells or floating freely in the bloodstream.

The "liquid biopsies," as the tests are known, have become something of a Holy Grail in cancer treatment among physicians, researchers and companies betting big on the technology. Liquid biopsies — unlike traditional biopsies involving invasive surgery — rely on an ordinary blood draw. Advances in sequencing the human genome, enabling researchers to detect genetic mutations of cancers, have made the tests possible.


more @
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/01/11/a-revolutionary-blood-test-that-can-detect-cancer.html?__source=xfinity|mod&par=xfinity_newHP_Cancer

Quote from: walkstall on January 11, 2016, 08:08:22 PM

snip~
Unique cancer mutations show up in microscopic fragments of DNA in a patient's blood, which can give physicians a telltale sign of the presence of the disease in almost all types of cancer mutations — within cells or floating freely in the bloodstream.

The "liquid biopsies," as the tests are known, have become something of a Holy Grail in cancer treatment among physicians, researchers and companies betting big on the technology. Liquid biopsies — unlike traditional biopsies involving invasive surgery — rely on an ordinary blood draw. Advances in sequencing the human genome, enabling researchers to detect genetic mutations of cancers, have made the tests possible.


more @
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/01/11/a-revolutionary-blood-test-that-can-detect-cancer.html?__source=xfinity|mod&par=xfinity_newHP_Cancer

I don't want to know when and how I will die.

Surprise me.

I can think of one situation where this blood test, and the results therefrom, would be a huge Blessing.  For a cancer patient who has undergone who-knows-what-hellish treatments to get rid of their cancer, the fear of a return of cancer is torturous.  If they could get a simple blood test and be told, "Nope. No cancer in your body. Come back again next year."  Instead now they have to hold their breath for the next 5 years.