Identifying as many as 50 different types of cancer in a single blood test is quite remarkable.
In our previous News post, Providence Offers Multi-cancer Early Detection (MCED) Testing, we learned the scope of MCED and Providence’s partnership with Grail and their Galleri® test. Today, Dr. Ora Gordon breaks down its simplicity, empowering individuals and their primary care providers to take advantage of this test through Providence—a large regional provider that understands how to treat the whole person.
“We can find cells floating in the blood with small amounts of DNA that don’t belong to the person. They actually belong to the cancer, and not only can we see if there’s cancer present but we’re able to detect where it comes from: the ovary, the lung, the esophagus, or the breast tissue. This is truly transformational in how we screen for cancers.”
– Ora Gordon, MD
Dr. Ora Gordon Provides an MCED Overview
Dr. Ora Gordon provides key insights for MCED at Providence.
What Dr. Gordon indicates in the DNA process is the best part. Understanding that cancer is present before symptoms manifest is a game changer, but knowing where in the body it originates provides providers with a road map for treatment. Each cancer has a standard of care, but there is more. Cancer itself has a genetic profile, which may indicate whether alternative treatments are of more significant benefit. As such, some cancers of the same organ can be more or less aggressive, which defines the care approach. Successful treatment of the more aggressive cancers depends highly on timing, potentially treating an elusive case in stages 0-2 versus late discovery, stages 3 or 4. The later the stage, the more time cancer has had to advance into other parts of the body, which determines statistical survivability.
“The goal is to detect cancer early when it can be cured.”
– Ora Gordon, MD
The magic of Saint John’s is our ability to extend care with highly experienced specialists and access to innovative treatments and clinical trials. If cancer cases become complex, treatment is adapted to the patient, elevating the standard of care and providing additional treatment options that are more difficult to harness elsewhere. Moreover, early-stage cases are met with curative effects, often requiring no additional treatment beyond surgery and radiation, or far less long-term treatment.
For screening and questions about MCED, please call our regional genetics scheduling line at 818-748-4748.
Or visit, Providence.org/Locations/SoCal/Genetics-and-Genomics
Galleri® Multi-cancer Early Detection
- Detects a shared cancer signal across 50+ types of cancer through a simple blood draw
- Uses machine learning and methylation pattern recognition to detect a cancer signal
- Predicts origin of the cancer signal to guide next steps to diagnosis
See a list of cancers discoverable with the Galleri test.
Providence Offers Multi-cancer Early Detection (MCED) Testing