Why should I consider Cancer Screening?

The number of cancer cases in the UK is projected to rise by around a third, to around 506,000 new cases per year by 2038-40 (1)  This increase is mainly due to the growing and ageing population, though cancer incidence rates (which account for these population changes) are also projected to increase, by around 3% by 2038-40. This means that individuals will be, on average, more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than they are now.

The cancer patient population is projected to become older: in the late 1970s, 42% of new cancer diagnoses were in people aged 70+; by 2040 this figure could be 60%. Prostate cancer may overtake breast cancer as the most common type of cancer in the UK. Many cancers are causes in part by risk factors like Obesity, smoking and alcohol that can be modified (2)

  1. Smittenaar CR, Petersen KA, Stewart K, Moitt N. Cancer incidence and mortality projections in the UK until 2035. Br J Cancer. 2016 Oct 25;115(9):1147–55.
  2. Brown KF, Rumgay H, Dunlop C, Ryan M, Quartly F, Cox A, et al. The fraction of cancer attributable to modifiable risk factors in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the United Kingdom in 2015. Br J Cancer. 2018 Apr;118(8):1130–41.

Appointment

30 minutes face to face with your named GP

Cost: From £750

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TruCheck TM Cancer Screening

TruCheckTM is a non-invasive blood-based multi cancer screening test. It is an advanced screening test based on detection of circulating tumour cells (CTCs) from the blood sample of a patient. The test covers screening for over 70 cancers including breast, colon, prostate and lung cancer.

Who is the test suitable for?

  • Women and men above 40 years of age, who have never been diagnosed with any cancer.
  • Totally asymptomatic at present
  • No clinical or radiological suspicion of cancer at present
  • No prior history of diagnosis or treatment of any cancer 

The Trucheck™ Intelli can detect over 70 types of cancer. Including the most common cancers; breast, bowel, prostate, ovarian, and lung cancers (see full list below). It does not check for all cancers, only the cancers related to each Trucheck™ test.

Trucheck™ cannot detect blood or lymphatic system cancers because CTCs are associated with solid organ malignancies.

Trucheck™ Intelli has been validated for the detection of the following types of cancer:

  • Adenocarcinoma ( Salivary Duct, Thyroid, Breast, lung, Oesophagus, Stomach, Duodenum,
    Jejunum, Ileum, Colon, Rectum, Pancreas, Gallbladder, Bile Duct, Liver, Ovary, Prostate, Uterus);
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC; Buccal Mucosa, Hard Palate, Larynx, Lip, Oral Cavity, Paranasal Sinus, Pharynx, Pyriform Fossa, Retromolar Trigone, Soft palate, Tongue, Tonsil, Oesophagus, Lung, Penis, Cervix, Vulva, Vagina, Anorectal, Skin);
  • Adenosquamous Carcinoma (Oesophagus, Lung);
  • Neuroendocrine (Lung, Esophagus, Duodenum, Jejunum, lleum, Thymus, Adrenal, Pancreas, Prostate, Colon, Rectum);
  • Renal Cell Carcinoma (Kidney);
  • Transitional Cell Carcinoma (Bladder, Renal Pelvis, Ureter);
  • Gastrointestinal Stromal tumors (Stomach, Duodenum, lleum, Jejunum, Colon, Rectum);
  • Melanomas (Cutaneous, Mucosal);
  • Mesothelioma (Plural, Peritoneal);
  • Sarcomas (Carcinosarcoma, Chondrosarcoma, Leiomyosarcoma, Osteosarcoma, Liposarcoma);
  • Small Cell Lung Cancer (Lung);
  • Glioma 

Age is a significant risk factor for nearly all cancers. We want to target these cancer screening tests at people likely to benefit from testing. Each test has a set age group who are eligible for screening.

  • Trucheck™ Intelli: Adults over 40 years of age
  • Trucheck™ Prostate: Males over 45 years of age
  • Trucheck Breast: Females over 40 years of age
  • Trucheck™ Colon: Adults over 40 years of age 

The laboratory will usually share your results with your doctor within 2 weeks. At your test consultation, you can decide with your doctor how you would like to receive your results. We offer all patients a free face to face follow-up consultation. If you prefer you may decide with your doctor to receive your results by telephone.

A positive result means CTCs indicative of Trucheck™ positivity have been detected in your sample, which is suggestive of a higher chance of detection of malignancy (cancer). The sample result will also usually suggest the likely organ of origin and cancer type.

Your doctor will discuss with you suitable next steps to confirm if cancer is present. This will usually mean considering further diagnostic tests such as scans and biopsies. 

A negative result means CTCs were not detected in your sample. The chance of having an active malignancy present in the body is low.

A negative Trucheck report does not completely rule out the possibility of cancer as some cancers may not she detectable tumour cells in the blood.

You can enjoy the peace of mind given by the negative test result. 

Trucheck™ can detect cancers at an early stage before symptoms appear.

Trucheck™ Intelli is a blood test that can detect more than 70 types of early-stage cancer within the asymptomatic population. Trucheck Intelli has an overall sensitivity of 88.2% – meaning that for every 100 patients tested who have cancer, it will correctly identify 88 of those patients, resulting in a 12% false negative rate.

Trucheck™ Breast is a blood test that can detect early-stage breast cancer in asymptomatic women. Trucheck Breast has a sensitivity of 88.2% – meaning that for every 100 patients tested who have cancer, it will correctly identify 88 of those patients, resulting in a 12% false negative rate.

Trucheck™ Prostate is a blood test that can detect early-stage prostate cancer in asymptomatic men. Trucheck™ Prostate has a sensitivity of 85.6% – meaning that for every 100 patients tested who have cancer, it will correctly identify 86 of those patients, resulting in a 14% false negative rate.

Trucheck™ Colon is a blood test that can detect early-stage colon cancer in asymptomatic men and women.

  • Trucheck™ Colon has a sensitivity of 82.5% – meaning that for every 100 patients tested who have cancer, it will correctly identify 83 of those patients, resulting in a 17% false negative rate. 

All Trucheck tests have a specificity of 99% – meaning that for every 100 people tested, that do not have cancer, Trucheck will correctly identify 99 of these individuals, resulting in a 1% false positive rate.

False positives occur in all screening tests, the 1% level in Trucheck tests compares favourably with other cancer screening such as PSA testing, FIT testing and mammograms. 

No you should do the test alongside normal cancer screening tests for example a cervical smear, mammogram or PSA test

No, in these circumstances you should have a full medical check up and investigations. TruCheckTM is recommended for healthy asymptomatic individuals

No, in these circumstances you should have a full medical check up and investigations. TruCheck is recommended for healthy asymptomatic individuals.

Can the TruCheckTM monitor recurrence I have previously had cancer

No, this test is not designed for that purpose, you should discuss this with your oncologist first

You can take the test on a yearly basis as an annual cancer check test

TruCheckTM can help patients without any symptoms who have a higher cancer risk, due to family history or age

The test in some cases may produce false positive /false negative results due to biological and analytical variations

Yes, we believe the Cancer Screening blood test is a really powerful addition to our health screening. It is not designed to replace standard health screening tests so should be done alongside your routine healthcare.