BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL STAFF A novel blood test, described as an “incredibly exciting” advancement, demonstrated the ability to detect the recurrence of breast cancer up to three years before tumors appear on routine scans. This invention has the potential to drastically enhance treatment outcomes (and peace of mind) for millions of women around the world. A step forward in breast cancer treatment Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women, with over 2 million diagnoses each year. Despite advances in treatment, the danger of cancer recurrence, frequently at a more advanced and difficult stage, remains a major concern. The new blood test, unveiled at the American Society of Clinical Oncology‘s annual meeting in Chicago, offers a substantial advancement in early diagnosis and prevention methods. How does the liquid biopsy work? The test, created by experts at the Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre in London, detects trace levels of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in the bloodstream. Cancer cells emit ctDNA, which can detect residual disease long before routine imaging methods can. “Breast cancer cells can remain in the body after surgery and other treatments but there can be so few of these cells that they are undetectable on follow-up scans,” explained Isaac Garcia-Murillas, the study’s lead author at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London. “These cells can cause breast cancer patients to relapse many years after their initial treatment.” Trial findings and implications In the five-year trial of 78 individuals with varied forms of breast cancer, the test correctly identified recurrence in all 11 patients who relapsed. Furthermore, it detected no false negatives among the 60 women who did not relapse, confirming its great sensitivity and dependability. Simon Vincent, director of research at Breast Cancer Now, emphasized the importance of these findings: “Early detection is one of our greatest weapons against breast cancer and these initial findings, which suggest tests could be able to detect signs of breast cancer recurrence over a year before symptoms emerge, are incredibly exciting.” The test’s ability to detect relapse considerably earlier enables prompt therapies, potentially stopping cancer from spreading to other parts of the body. “Catching breast cancer recurrence earlier means treatment is much more likely to destroy the cancer and stop it spreading to other parts of the body, at which point it becomes incurable,” Vincent said. Enhanced detection using cutting-edge technology Traditional ctDNA testing often uses whole exome sequencing, which looks at between 16 and 50 mutations. However, the new test uses whole genome sequencing to analyze 1,800 mutations, considerably enhancing its sensitivity. This innovative technology not only detects future recurrences but also assists in determining which women might benefit from preventive therapy and which can avoid unneeded treatment. “It is very exciting to see advances in technology that can detect cancer cells and DNA with greater sensitivity,” said ICR CEO Prof Kristian Helin. “These approaches are having a transformative effect on cancer diagnosis.” Looking ahead Although the research is still in its early phases, the potential significance of this test is significant. It has the potential to transform the landscape of breast cancer treatment and enhance survival rates by providing a way to detect cancer recurrence far earlier than standard methods. The trial’s excellent results point to a future in which liquid biopsies may become a common tool in the ongoing fight against breast cancer. As subsequent studies confirm these findings, the goal is that this technology will become available to more patients, providing a lifeline to those in danger of recurrence.  The post Breakthrough blood test detects breast cancer recurrence earlier than ever before first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

'It seems like they have done this before'

All three officers were promptly transported to a nearby hospital

'Very upsetting'

Former University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas’ challenge to a rule that prevents the biological male from competing against women in “elite events” was shot down Wednesday. The Court of Arbitration for Sport denied the legal effort of Thomas, a biological male, to overturn rules issued in March 2023 by World Aquatics, the international governing body for competitive swimming and several other Olympic events, according to The Guardian. Thomas had sought to compete against women in the 2024 Summer Olympic games in Paris. “The panel concludes that she lacks standing to challenge the policy and the operational requirements in the framework of the present proceeding,” the court said in its ruling, The Associated Press reported. “She is currently only entitled to compete in USA Swimming events that do not qualify as ‘Elite Events,’” the panel said in its ruling, according to USA Today. The issue of biological males who identify as transgender competing in women’s sports became controversial following Thomas’ participation in the 2022 NCAA championships, where the biological male won the 500-yard women’s final by 1.75 seconds. “World Aquatics welcomes the recent decision made by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding the case of Lia Thomas, which we believe is a major step forward in our efforts to protect women’s sport,” the organization said in a statement provided to the Daily Caller News Foundation. “World Aquatics is dedicated to fostering an environment that promotes fairness, respect, and equal opportunities for athletes of all genders and we reaffirm this pledge.” “Our policies and practices are continuously evaluated to ensure they align with these core values, which led to the introduction of our open category,” the statement continued. “We remain committed to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to uphold the principles of inclusivity in aquatic sports and remain confident that our gender inclusion policy represents a fair approach.” Riley Gaines, who competed against Thomas as a member of the University of Kentucky’s swim team during the 2022 NCAA Championships, has been a vocal critic of allowing transgender athletes to compete against women. The Olympic Games are scheduled to start July 26 in Paris, with hundreds of athletes competing in events that include basketball, gymnastics, diving, swimming, wrestling, and weightlifting. Originally published by the Daily Caller News Foundation The post Trans Swimmer Lia Thomas’ Challenge to Rule That Prevents Competing Against Women in ‘Elite Events’ Fails appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Lia Thomas Loses Bid to Compete in the Summer Olympics

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All that emerges from this latest installment is that Justice Alito knows his constitutional role and carries it out with grace under tremendous fire.