The Insight Corner Hub: How to Talk to Your Patients About Multi-Cancer Early Detection Tests: Insights from Experts

As a healthcare provider, it's crucial to stay informed about the latest advancements in medical technology and how they can benefit your patients. One such innovation that has captured the attention of doctors, researchers, and patients alike is the Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) tests¹². These tests have the potential to revolutionize cancer screening by detecting a range of cancers through a simple blood test¹². However, it's essential to understand how to effectively communicate with your patients about these tests and their implications.

What are MCED Tests?

MCED tests have the potential to find more than one type of cancer from a single sample of blood¹. The blood sample is tested for certain pieces of DNA or proteins from cancer cells. If these are found, it might mean that the person has cancer, and it might also show which organ the cancer started in¹. Some MCED tests only test for the likelihood that there is cancer somewhere in the body, so if a person has a positive test result, they will need other tests, like imaging tests, to try to figure out where in the body the abnormal DNA or proteins came from¹.

Why are MCED Tests Being Developed?

MCED tests might be very useful if they’re proven to help prevent cancer deaths¹. Currently, we have proven screening tests for some types of cancer (including breast, cervical, colorectal, prostate, and lung), because they’ve led to finding and treating these types of cancer earlier¹. Cancers that are found early are often easier to treat and tend to have better outcomes¹. But most cancers do not have proven early detection screening tests. In fact, about 70% of all cancer deaths come from cancers for which there are currently no proven screening tests¹. These cancers are often diagnosed at an advanced stage when they can be harder to treat¹. MCED tests might be able to find a wide range of cancers earlier, hopefully before a person has any symptoms¹.

How Should You Talk to Your Patients About MCED Tests?

When discussing MCED tests with your patients, it's important to provide accurate information and support². Here are some key points you should consider:

- Explain what MCED tests are: Make sure your patients understand that these tests can detect multiple types of cancer from a single blood sample¹.

- Discuss the benefits: Early diagnosis enables timely treatment, which may lead to improved survival rates and better patient outcomes².

- Address the limitations: It's important for patients to understand that these tests are not meant to replace current screening methods but rather supplement them¹.

- Talk about the risks: Patients should be aware that early-stage tumors might not provide much DNA and may need to be further along to generate enough DNA to be reliably detected by the blood test².

- Clarify that MCEDs are not yet FDA approved: While many companies developing these tests hope eventually to get FDA approval, these tests are not yet FDA cleared or approved¹.

In addition, it would be beneficial if healthcare providers had access to a shared decision-making tool that could guide their conversations about MCEDs with their patients³.

Conclusion

The world of cancer screening is on the cusp of a transformative shift with the rise of MCED tests². As healthcare professionals, it's our responsibility to ensure our patients are well-informed about their options. By providing accurate information and support, we can help our patients make informed decisions about their health.

References:

(1) Multi-cancer Early Detection Tests | MCED | GRAIL Galleri Test. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/screening/multi-cancer-early-detection-tests.html.

(2) What are multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests, and should you get .... https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/what-are-multi-cancer-early-detection--mced--tests--and-should-you-get-one.h00-159621012.html.

(3) Weighing the Potential Risks and Benefits of Multi-Cancer Early .... https://geiselmed.dartmouth.edu/news/2023/weighing-the-potential-risks-and-benefits-of-multi-cancer-early-detection-tests-q-a-with-dr-glyn-elwyn/.

(4) Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Cancer Screening. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/screening/questions-to-ask-your-doctor-about-cancer-screening.html.

(5) Multi-Cancer Early Detection Tests: Current Progress and Future .... https://aacrjournals.org/cebp/article/31/3/512/681929/Multi-Cancer-Early-Detection-Tests-Current.