A blood test that will help detect breast cancer in women was launched at a city hospital on Wednesday.
Detection of breast cancer was done only through self-examination by the patient, clinical examination by a doctor or a mammogram test, said Surinder Bhatia, the director of medical services at Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals that launched the test.
“A simple blood test will detect whether tumour cells are present in the blood. If the result is positive then further tests can be done,” said Bhatia.
Apollo has tied up with Datar Cancer Genetics, the company that has introduced the test, to conduct the blood tests. The samples will be sent to Datar’s laboratory in Nasik. “The results will arrive within eight to 10 days. The cost of the test is Rs 6,000,” said Bhatia.
He added that since breast cancer was the most common cancer among women in India, the test would benefit many women in early detection. A late detection reduces the chance of full recovery.
Bhatia said when cancer cells spread, some of the cells are also released into the bloodstream. In the initial stages, the immune system destroys these cells. “But the test will still be able to detect the presence of the cells. While some cells are being destroyed by the immune system, new cells are being released simultaneously.”
Bhatia said the risk with self-examination was that if the woman was not fully aware of how to detect, she might miss the signs. Many women avoid going to a doctor for clinical examination while mammogram is not available everywhere, he said.