Thousands of people in Kent invited for new cancer blood test

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The NHS is hoping to recruit thousands of people in Kent and Medway as part of a national trial of a new kind of blood test to spot the early signs of cancer. 

It's one of eight areas in England to be chosen for the pilot, which it is hoped will pick up on chemical changes in the body long before any physical symptoms appear. 

Testing sites will be set-up in shopping centre car parks, with the first due to open in Dartford at the end of October. 

Several mobile testing clinics are planned for retail parks and other community locations. Credit: NHS England

The Galleri test can detect cancers that are not routinely screened for and can pinpoint where in the body the disease is coming from with a high degree of accuracy.

It works by looking for chemical changes in fragments of genetic code – cell-free DNA – that transfer from tumours into the bloodstream.

Kimberley Birkett, who had breast cancer four years ago, hopes the new blood test will save lives.

Nationally the NHS aims to recruit 140,000 volunteers to see how well the test works.

A random sample of people aged between 50 and 77 will get letters inviting them to mobile testing centres, which will be set up in retail parks and other convenient community locations.

Prof Peter Sasieni, one of the trial’s lead investigators, said: "We need to study the Galleri test carefully to find out whether it can significantly reduce the number of cancers diagnosed at a late stage. The test could be a game-changer for early cancer detection and we are excited to be leading this important research."

The NHS trial is being led by the Cancer Research UK and King’s College London together with Grail, which developed the Galleri test. Credit: NHS England / Grail

Experts have stressed that anyone with symptoms of cancer should always seek help from their GP.

Kimberley Birkett, from Herne Bay, was diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago. She welcomes the new trial: “I’ve had a few friends actually who weren’t diagnosed early and sadly haven’t made it. I hope it will save a lot more people and will make people’s treatment a lot easier as well.”