TEXAS – A new wave of blood tests is changing how doctors detect cancer. These tests can find signs of cancer early, sometimes before symptoms appear, giving patients a better chance at successful treatment.
Andrew Atkinson knows firsthand the impact cancer can have. His mother died from a rare eye cancer, and his father is currently battling prostate cancer.
Motivated by his family’s history, he decided to take one of the new blood tests designed to detect cancer early.
“Cancer is part of my family story,” Atkinson says. “I wanted to be proactive and know where I stand.”
Atkinson is focused on staying healthy for his three daughters more than ever. Two of his daughters were at Camp Mystic during the July 4th floods. He has a renewed sense of how sacred life can be.
There are things we can’t control, like natural disasters, he said, but this test is something within our control to stay healthy for our family.
When Atkinson received his test results, he was relieved to learn there was no cancer.
“I was nervous to open the results, but it was all clear,” he shared.
Dr. Greg Burzynski, an internal medicine physician with Restore Longevity and Houston Concierge Medicine, explains that these blood tests are relatively new and can have several flaws (including false postives).
Although they are designed to detect cancer early, they fill gaps where traditional screenings don’t exist.
“We have a few traditional screenings like colonoscopies and mammograms... but for many cancers, we didn’t have good tools until now,” Dr. Burzynski says. “This test helps find cancer earlier, giving patients better options and saving lives.”
There are currently at least two leading companies offering these tests. One is the GRAIL company with its Galleri test, which detects fragments of tumor DNA and uses epigenetic sequencing to identify where cancer might be coming from. The other is Exact Sciences, makers of the Cologuard test for colon cancer, which uses similar technology plus protein markers.
“As companies gather more data and use AI, these tests will become more sensitive and specific, helping us detect cancer earlier and more accurately,” Dr. Burzynski adds.
Cost and Accessibility
Currently, these blood tests cost between $900 and $1,000 through Dr. Burzynski, which can be a barrier for many.
The Cancerguard test is less expensive and also HSA and FSA eligible when ordered directly through the company’s website.
Atkinson believes the cost is worth it for the peace of mind and potential to catch cancer early.
“It was a lot, but it’s your health,” he said. “You invest in your finances, you have to invest in your health... I hope insurance covers it so more people can get this early warning.”