Private MD News - Cancer Detection and Tumor Markers

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There are a number of medical conditions that can be detected by a simple blood test, but as researchers become aware of new markers and signals associated with certain illnesses, lab results grow more instrumental in diagnosing more complex illnesses. Certain fluctuations in various blood levels and protein concentrations can indicate to clinicians that a syndrome is likely to exist, leading to more thorough medical tests based on these basic blood testing samples.

Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have identified a series of protein readings in basic blood tests that have been tied to the presence of lymphedema in patients, a condition that occurs when lymphatic tissues are no longer draining fluids correctly. This illness can cause serious infections and other complications, and since it is most often present in cancer patients, the repercussions of fluid buildup could be significant.

The study looked at about 30 patients, both unaffected and those already diagnosed with lymphedema, to isolate common factors in their blood tests. While researchers found that healthy and cancerous tissues showed concerning genetic markers, the concentration of specific proteins was higher among diseased samples than healthier samples. The final panels showed that six proteins were present in high volumes to definitively indicate the presence of blockage and infection, but several of them together could still be a sign that more intensive testing is necessary.

Preventative care measures... Full Story

People who have a family history of cancer should regularly get blood tests and lab tests to help make sure they are healthy. These individuals should closely follow any scientific studies that point to simple lifestyle changes they can make to help reduce their risk of developing cancer. For example, researchers from the University of Colorado Cancer Center recently discovered that consuming more resistant starch may help people lower their chances of colorectal cancer.

Resistant starch can't be digested, so it ends up in the bowel in more or less the same form it was in when it is first consumed. Researchers set out to determine if the fact that these foods stay whole in the bowel has an effect on colorectal cancer risk.

Eat more starch ... Full Story