I AM AN ONCOLOGIST. SO YOU CAN IMAGINE my delight that researchers have developed a non-invasive breath test that accurately detects colorectal cancer. Today, we explore how your breath may someday be a key to cancer diagnosis....CONTINUE READING
I will be honest with you. I am sharing this piece in part because the new research is exciting.
But I am also sharing it to nudge you to have appropriate cancer screening.
Cancer: Early Detection Matters
Early detection matters when it comes to optimizing survival chances. No one wants cancer, but it is best to catch it early if you have it.
A bar graph showing colorectal survival by stage. In the U.S., the five-year survival rate of colorectal cancer is 91 percent when caught early. On the other hand, those with advanced disease have 16 percent odds.
For example, in the U.S., the five-year survival rate of colorectal cancer is 91 percent when caught early. On the other hand, those with advanced disease have 16 percent odds.
Here are the numbers for the initial stage:
A pie chart showing the extent of colorectal cancer at diagnosis in the U.S. About 37 percent have localized disease, 38 percent regional, and 24 percent have distant spread (metastasis).
We have to do better. Only seven in 10 U.S. adults aged 50 to 75 are up-to-date with colorectal cancer screening. Are you?
A Breath Test to Diagnose Cancer
A breath test is a non-invasive, easy-to-complete test. I want to share the results of a new study using a breath test to find cancer.
In the Colorectal Breath Analysis (COBRA1) Study, a multi-institutional British team combined a breath test with machine learning to identify volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and clinical data.
This study aims to determine whether we can use a breath test to detect colorectal cancer and polyps early.
Investigators asked patients who presented for a planned colonoscopy (or scheduled to undergo elective resection of confirmed colorectal cancer) to provide a breath sample.
