Cancerous tumors can form in the ducts of the pancreas and can start to grow out of control. When these tumor cells die, fragments of the tumor cell’s DNA end up circulating in the person’s blood. Utilizing patented technology, the test works by being able to ‘catch’ these DNA signals in the blood that are specific to pancreatic cancer.

This cutting-edge technique is also effective in catching the signals when very few DNA tumor fragments are present. This means the test is able to accurately detect early stages of pancreatic cancer (pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma – PDAC) even when a person may not yet be experiencing any noticeable symptoms of the cancer.

Despite improvements in treatment options, survival rates for pancreatic cancer continue to be low, in part because pancreatic cancer does not usually exhibit any clear symptoms until it has advanced and spread beyond the pancreas.

Further limiting the ability of doctors to find pancreatic cancer early is the fact that symptoms of pancreatic cancer can be hard to distinguish from other digestive issues.

The good news is that when pancreatic cancer is detected in its early stages, it can be effectively treated through surgery and other techniques.

This test was specifically designed for early stage detection. Scientists estimate that when pancreatic cancer is discovered early, the survival rate can increase dramatically.

There’s also evidence that there is a relatively long period of time between when the first signs of cellular changes appear in the pancreas and when the cancer spreads to other parts of the body. This means there is a substantial period of time and an important window of opportunity where pancreatic cancer can be potentially detected in the bloodstream and effectively treated.

That is why it is so important to understand if you or someone you know is at high risk to develop pancreatic cancer and to speak to your doctor about ordering this test.