Cancer Screening: Can One Blood Test Really Detect 50+ Cancers?

March 17
31 mins

Episode Description

Cancer screenings are an important part of staying healthy. Still, they might feel inconvenient — and sometimes even uncomfortable. So what about tests that claim to detect dozens of cancers from just a single blood draw? In this episode, we dive into the rise of multi-cancer detection blood tests, breaking down how they work and what the science says — for now.

Expert: Dr. Brittany Barthelemy, primary care doctor 

Notable topics covered:

  • What multi-cancer detection blood tests are and why they’re getting attention
  • Why aren’t these tests FDA approved?
  • Key findings from the PATHFINDER study, including false-positive rates
  • The high out-of-pocket cost and lack of insurance coverage
  • Shield: FDA-approved blood testing for colon cancer
  • What to know about “silent” cancers, like pancreatic and ovarian cancer
  • Practical ways to reduce cancer risk, including proven screenings and lifestyle habits

If you enjoy these kinds of conversations, be sure to subscribe. And for more topics like this, visit our blog at houstonmethodist.org/blog

See all episodes