Blood Test That Can Detect Breast Cancer, Available in India Now

Breast cancer is the leading form of cancer reported in the Indian female population, affecting 25.8 per 100,000 women with a mortality rate of 12.7 per 100,000 women. These are shockingly high numbers and the leading reason is a lack of testing and awareness among the female population.

The primary reason behind the steeping mortality rate from breast cancer is due to lack of early testing and awareness. However, as medicine and research are improving, so are the ways of detection. While mammography and MRI were the two most potent diagnostic methods for breast cancer, things are rapidly evolving in the healthcare field.

Now, a vial or 5 ml of blood will successfully detect breast cancer in women and that too at an earlier stage when cancer hasn’t grown or proliferated to other parts of the body. This article will explore more about the new blood test and how early detection of breast cancer is important for recovery.

What is the new Blood Test for Diagnosing Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is quite a prevalent form of cancer in women. We often hear running physical tests each month by feeling around the breast tissues for lumps or abnormalities.

While this can help with early detection, earlier, the most foolproof way of getting a formal diagnosis for breast cancer would be via imaging techniques like mammography. Not only are they expensive, but they are also time-consuming.

Looking into these shortcomings, the Datar Cancer Genetics put in a lot of research and developed a blood test that can successfully detect breast cancer.

The blood test can promptly detect the “circulation tumor cells and clusters” in the blood that is aligned to the chemistry of breast cancer in women.

Further shedding some light on this new breakthrough, Dr Rajan Datar, the founder and chairman of Datar Cancer Genetics reported that their clinical performance (and trials) brought a high success rate than anticipated.

The researchers found that the success rate and accuracy of the test in detecting breast cancer was:

Stage 3 and Stage 4 – 100%

Stage 2 – 95%

Stage 1 – 90%

Stage 0 – 80%

The clinical trial consisted of subjects of varying ethnicities and countries like India, the U.S and London. The subjects in the trial were 40 and above and the trial lasted for 12 months for the final result.

What is the Future of this Blood Test for Breast Cancer?

Since early detection of blood cancer can potentially ensure complete cure and recovery in the patient with lesser chances of cancer recurrence, doctors are persistently urging women to get tested if something feels amiss around the breasts.

With this new blood test, getting an earlier diagnosis can be effectively streamlined, enabling women to get the treatment on time and prevent further deterioration of the condition.

In order to make the blood test accessible to people, Datar Cancer Genetics has tied up with Apollo Healthcare. This will streamline the availability and ensure that women pan India can get the blood test for earlier detection.

Reiterating this collaboration, Santosh Marathe, the CEO of Apollo Hospitals (western region) declared that the blood test will be available for INR 6,000.00 in India. This is quite a reduced price according to the demographics of the population in India as opposed to the western countries where it is available for over $1000.

Marathe further clarified that if the Central and State governments plan to include the test in the government-run health insurance and schemes, the test is going to be even more accessible for women from lower-income families to be able to afford the test.

Also, there are chances that the current pricing of this blood test will be reduced further in the future through different public health initiatives.

Is the Blood Test for Breast Cancer a suitable Substitute for Mammography?

With the launch of the new blood test for breast cancer detection, the one question that people have in their mind is, “Will it be a complete substitute for mammography?”

Mammography is an imaging technique that takes X-rays of the breast to detect early signs of breast cancer. Doctors emphasize the need for regular mammograms in the Indian population to rule out complications and get immediate treatment if something is wrong.

As reported on Mid Day, Dr Sneha Datar clarified that the blood test for breast cancer detection isn’t a substitute. Instead, it is an add-on and a quicker procedure to get a possible diagnosis of breast cancer.

If the test comes back position, doctors will have to immediately prescribe an MRI and mammography to the patient for further detection and a more comprehensive diagnosis. The primary objective of this blood test is to detect the possibilities of breast cancer in asymptomatic patients – especially in the earlier stages.

Is the Blood Test Approved by Higher Health Authorities?

The blood test for breast cancer detection developed by the Datar Cancer Genetics is approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The approval went through in November 2021, following the high success rate and accuracy of the test in one of the largest clinical trials.

Dr Chirantan Bose, Director, Patient’s Care Services at Datar Cancer Genetics Ltd. said that this was one of the largest clinical trials presented to the WHO. The trial involved 8000 asymptomatic women who underwent the screening and were later followed up after 12 months.

The test was later named “EasyCheck Breast” and is regarded as an annual test that every woman above the age of 40 should undergo, irrespective of whether they have any symptoms or not.

Dr Bose further emphasizes that even if someone tests negative but is experiencing potent symptoms like lumps in the breast, they should undergo further screening to rule out any potential complications.

FAQs

• What is the name of the blood test for breast cancer?

The newly developed blood test for breast cancer detection developed by the Datar Cancer Genetics is named “EasyCheck Breast.”

• How much is the cost of the blood test for breast cancer?

EasyCheck Breast costs INR 6000 per test.

• Where is the blood test for breast cancer available?

The blood test is currently available across the Apollo Healthcare centres in India.

Conclusion

Given the shockingly rapid increase in breast cancer diagnosis among the Indian female population, there is no better time to get tested. Early detection foregoes a lot of complications associated with this disease. If you are feeling something amiss with the anatomy of your breasts, consult a doctor and get tested. Even without any symptoms, a woman above 40 should prioritize an annual mammogram or blood test to rule out any possibilities of breast cancer.