From Name
Jeff Miner

Forbes reports on an early lung cancer detection procedure: 3 New Medical
Tests that Can Save Your Life – But You Have to Ask
http://blogs.forbes.com/melaniehaiken/2011/06/17/3-lifesaving-new-medical-tests-you-have-to-ask-for/
2. Early CDT-Lung for Lung Cancer
Another silent killer, lung cancer kills more
than 160,000 people a year in the U.S. and has a shockingly low
16-percent survival rate after five years. The reason? Lung cancer
is rarely caught early, when tumors are operable. Known as Early
CDT-Lung, this new test from Oncimmune of
Kansas City, shows promise to change that. It measures antibodies
produced by the immune system in response to lung cancer proteins;
a positive result indicates that the immune system has been
activated in response to cancer cells. Because antibodies show up
early in the cancer process, Early CDT-Lung has the advantage of
being able to detect lung cancer before symptoms appear. It has
the additional advantage of being a blood test, so it’s
non-invasive with no radiation exposure, unlike scans. Results are
available from Oncimmune’s laboratory within a week. In some
studies the test’s accuracy was greater than 90 percent,
proponents say. Unfortunately, if you’re a smoker or former
smoker, no test can say you’re definitively cancer free. But a
negative result on this test suggests your body is not reacting
visibly to the presence of protein-producing tumors. Exposure
to radon, asbestos or significant secondhand smoke also puts you
in the high-risk category.
The bottom line: Cost is $475 and the CDT-lung
cancer test is now covered by the majority of major medical
insurers as well as Medicare Part B. The company will bill your
insurance provider for you. Oncimmune hopes to have a breast
cancer blood test based on the same science available within the
next year.
Jeff Miner
Radon At Tahoe
********** RN PROF (Subscription changes - archives) - http://list.uiowa.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=RADONPROFESSIONALS&A=1 ***********