Scientists Develop 10-Minute Universal Cancer Test

Megalith

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Researchers at the University of Queensland in Australia have figured out a way to detect traces of cancer in a patient’s bloodstream with a “cheap and simple” test that utilizes “a colour-changing fluid to reveal the presence of malignant cells anywhere in the body and provides results in less than 10 minutes.” The caveat is that it “does not reveal where or how serious it is.”

Led by Matt Trau, a professor of chemistry at the University of Queensland, the researchers have run the test on 200 human cancer samples and healthy DNA. “We certainly don’t know yet whether it’s the holy grail for all cancer diagnostics, but it looks really interesting as an incredibly simple universal marker for cancer, and as an accessible and inexpensive technology that doesn’t require complicated lab-based equipment like DNA sequencing,” Trau said.
 
And in the US the test will cost the end user $12,254, insurance will agree to pay $75, negotiate the testing company down an additional $5400, leaving people to pay the remaining $7000 (math~~) for a test that costs probably $10.
 
not even in preliminary clinical trials if I read the article correctly, so it looks like it will be a long wait for the test if it works as they say.
 
And in the US the test will cost the end user $12,254, insurance will agree to pay $75, negotiate the testing company down an additional $5400, leaving people to pay the remaining $7000 (math~~) for a test that costs probably $10.

Only if you have a worthless health care plan bought through the government exchange.

If this becomes a standard blood test, a typical insurance plan would cover it with a basic $20/$40 copay.
 
Forget detection - why not just develop chemo that targets the methyl groups? I've seen many headliines suggesting gold nanoparticles preferentially target cancer - this backs it up.

Another reason epigenentic sequencing is the better way to look for cancer over standard sequencing. Exact Sciences is pulling in millions of revenue from their epigenetic colon cancer screening method. Had great success at a sequencing company that I worked for before they stupidly canned the project.
 
Beware of cheap and simple testing claims, remember Theranos / E Holmes fraud.

There is nothing easy or simple about cancer diagnosis/treatment/prevention.

Horrible disease period.

Coming from a professional analytical chemist and lab director (30 yrs in field)
 
Having lost family members to cancer over the past few years, a simple test like this would be hugely beneficial.

There are some cancers that will not show any symptoms until they are late stage, and then it's too late.
I hope I didn't come off as if I was making light of cancer; it was kind of a gallows humor hope, because I too have lost loved ones to cancer, and I currently have an uncle ravaged by it who isn't long for this world. Cancer is just about the cruelest thing which can be inflicted on a person, and humanity can't see the ass-end of it soon enough.
 
detection on markers have been around for some time (it is just faster now, as per this article). but Can it distinguish cancer from other more benign growths? Cause it will be used as a scaremongering tactic by more profit-oriented hospitals for a barrage of tests

hope insurance companies do not list this as a requirement for all future medical checkups. Cause if there is no regulation, im sure they will use this as a way to jack up your premiums, since we are left to wonder what is the false positive rate here...
 
detection on markers have been around for some time (it is just faster now, as per this article). but Can it distinguish cancer from other more benign growths? Cause it will be used as a scaremongering tactic by more profit-oriented hospitals for a barrage of tests

hope insurance companies do not list this as a requirement for all future medical checkups. Cause if there is no regulation, im sure they will use this as a way to jack up your premiums, since we are left to wonder what is the false positive rate here...


Did you even read the article?
 
This test contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

Do not take this if you are pregnant, have asthma, are near sighted, male, female, both, have a friend who knows someone that may have a food allergy, or are currently taking other medications.

Side effects include depression, anxiety, explosive lymph nodes, suicidal tendancies, paralysis, and death.

Ask your doctor about taking this test and if it is right for you!
 
And in the US the test will cost the end user $12,254, insurance will agree to pay $75, negotiate the testing company down an additional $5400, leaving people to pay the remaining $7000 (math~~) for a test that costs probably $10.

...and afterwards everyone will defend our health care system and say there is nothing we can do about it while ignoring all the other countries that don't have the same issues we do with overpriced healthcare.
 
...and afterwards everyone will defend our health care system and say there is nothing we can do about it while ignoring all the other countries that don't have the same issues we do with overpriced healthcare.

And meanwhile people in countries with universal health care will be told they are too old to take the test, or having taken the test will have to wait months before undergoing treatment.
At least if they are wealthy they will have the option of coming to the US and paying for their treatment.
 
yes.
lots of typical hypeeeeeeee...heard it before half a decade back or something. Hence my skepticism

We must have read a different article then.

Yes, we use detection markers for specific cancers. this is the same thing, but is a broad spectrum test, that has been shown to detect several of the more dangerous cancers. dangerous in that if detected early they are curable. a reliable test for cancer is sure as hell not "scaremongering".

it remains to be seen how cheap or easy to produce this test will be, but after losing many family members to cancer that could have been cured if they had only known about it, I will remain optimistic.
 
And meanwhile people in countries with universal health care will be told they are too old to take the test, or having taken the test will have to wait months before undergoing treatment.
At least if they are wealthy they will have the option of coming to the US and paying for their treatment.

I rest my case. Describe our health care system to literally anyone who is on universal and they will be utterly shocked at how shitty our system is. Stop spewing right wing bullshit.
 
I rest my case. Describe our health care system to literally anyone who is on universal and they will be utterly shocked at how shitty our system is. Stop spewing right wing bullshit.

We used to have a good system until recently. Over the past 8 years my insurance costs have almost doubled and my coverage has gotten much worse.
I work for a small company and they have done every thing they could to hold the price down, but every year they are stuck making a decision. Either raise prices or cut coverage.
2 years ago I had an HMO with a small co-pay. Now I have a HMO with a deductible and a $5,000 max out of pocket. That's worse than the PPO I have 6 years ago.

So much for the promise that you could keep your plan and keep your doctor.
 
We used to have a good system until recently. Over the past 8 years my insurance costs have almost doubled and my coverage has gotten much worse.
I work for a small company and they have done every thing they could to hold the price down, but every year they are stuck making a decision. Either raise prices or cut coverage.
2 years ago I had an HMO with a small co-pay. Now I have a HMO with a deductible and a $5,000 max out of pocket. That's worse than the PPO I have 6 years ago.

So much for the promise that you could keep your plan and keep your doctor.


I'm lucky, I work for a Not for Profit Hospital, and our plan is self funded. as long as you use one of our providers or services we only pay a small co-pay for most things. and we have an out of pocket cap. I pay about $60 a month for my premiums. (single, non-smoking, confirmed with nicotine screening). Family plans for smokers are considerably higher, about $300 a month but still much cheaper than what most people pay.

The really disturbing trend, is for medical screenings that are ever more intrusive to screen out "high risk" plan members. eventually to get the lowest insurance rates you will be required to have normal BP, low BMI, low cholesterol have no chronic conditions and pass a drug screen. Sounds great until you realize that once you hit a certain age. it gets very difficult to stay in the "cheap" bracket.

Edit:Meant to say this is probably how all plans will be in the future not mine in particular.
 
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We used to have a good system until recently. Over the past 8 years my insurance costs have almost doubled and my coverage has gotten much worse.
I work for a small company and they have done every thing they could to hold the price down, but every year they are stuck making a decision. Either raise prices or cut coverage.
2 years ago I had an HMO with a small co-pay. Now I have a HMO with a deductible and a $5,000 max out of pocket. That's worse than the PPO I have 6 years ago.

So much for the promise that you could keep your plan and keep your doctor.

And who are you blaming for this? That trend started before Obama. Before Bush. Start focusing your rage where it belongs, the insurance companies and AMA.
 
And who are you blaming for this? That trend started before Obama. Before Bush. Start focusing your rage where it belongs, the insurance companies and AMA.


Yes, insurance prices have always gone up, but the past several years (at least in my case) they have not only increased much more rapidly, but the coverage has gotten much worse at the same time. I mainly blame government interference in the market, and the biggest interference was the ACA (Obama care)

All of the additional mandated coverage increases insurance costs. It doesn't allow me to buy an insurance plan that just covers what I need.
The amount of fraud in the "treatment" centers out here in California in staggering, and that fraud adds to the costs of insurance.
 
I wouldnt bash on your healthcare system too much... its guaranteed not to be covered in Australia as anything preventative is pay yourself. On the other hand if you are about to drop dead then they will help.

I had 3 lesions cut out of my back because they might turn cancerous. I had to pay for the surgery and all other costs myself. If it was already cancer, medicare would have covered it.
 
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