New test that screens for 50 kinds of cancer is being offered locally

Since suffering a stroke four years ago I’ve paid more attention to medical advancements. Last month, I came across an intriguing new blood test that screens for 50 different types of cancer.

The Galleri test was developed by a Menlo Park firm, GRAIL, in conjunction with its partners. The technology development was spearheaded by Dr. Richard Klausner, who directed the National Cancer Institute from 1995 to 2001.

The Cleveland Clinic website says the Galleri test is, “a game-changing technique to catch more than 50 kinds of cancer in one simple blood test.”

In addition to detecting over 50 cancers, the Galleri test often identifies the cancer’s source: prostate, breast, lungs, colon, uterus, etc. Although it doesn’t cover all types of cancer (e.g., skin cancer), it has a false positive rate of less than half a percent. This means that fewer than one in 200 individuals who test positive for cancer with the Galleri test receive unnecessary scans or biopsies. This is a truly remarkable feat compared to most other screening tests with much higher false positive rates.

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Does it miss many cancers? Of course. Is it better at detecting late-stage cancers? Yes. But I think of it like an airbag: it won’t save all lives, but it might save my life or a family member’s.

However, the downside is its cost of $950, with minimal insurance coverage due to its novelty. Yet, there’s a silver lining: Sutter Health and the Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) are participating in a nationwide research study. Eligible individuals aged 50 to 75 without a recent cancer diagnosis may be able to get the test for free.

I found the enrollment link (GrailStudyPAMFRI@sutterhealth.org) and got an appointment in a few weeks. The process involved signing paperwork, answering a few questions, and donating a single tube of blood, taking about an hour in total.

The results arrived two days before my daughter’s wedding, instilling a sense of nervousness that led me to delay checking until after the celebrations. Fortunately, the call on Monday confirmed no cancer detection.

The Pathfinder 2 study involves multiple sites across the country, aiming to recruit 150,000 volunteers. For those with relatives outside the Bay Area, a list of participating medical centers can be found on the study’s website.

Talk to your doctor about getting the Galleri test or participating in the Pathfinder II Study.

However, I would suggest avoiding the month before your child’s wedding!

Elton Sherwin and his wife Katharine live in Menlo Park. He is a retired venture capitalist and now produces four podcasts:

The Bible and Homosexuality (soon to be available in Spanish);

The Queer Christian;

Inspiring Solutions for a Better World and

The Weekly Rotarian: Stories of Innovation and Service