- diagnose early cancer development – that is the ability to diagnose cancer in those with little or no symptoms or signs;
- confirm the diagnosis of cancer in those with uncertain results of conventional tests such as blood tests or X-rays;
- monitor the effect of treatment, including conventional treatment such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, or complementary and alternative treatments such as nutritional approaches or herbal medicine; and
- detect early recurrence in those who have had cancer in the past but are now in remission.
Who Should Have the Test?
The test
is available to everyone.
It would
be particularly valuable for:
- those who have a strong family history of cancer, but are fit and well;
- those who have had suspicious test results from their doctors, but do not know whether they have cancer or not;
- those who have had cancer diagnosed and are about to embark upon a course of treatment; and
- those who have had cancer in the past, and want to make sure they are clear.
For fit
and healthy people, over the age of 40, it could be
argued that they should have the test every 2 years or so.
For fit and healthy people over the age of 55
– 60 it could be argued that they should have the
test every 12 months.
For
people with cancer, or a history of cancer, or a family
history of cancer, it could be argued that the test
should be carried out more frequently.
How Is It Done?
The DR-70
test is carried out on a a fasting blood sample –
that is a blood sample taken after fasting (not eating)
for a period of 12 hours or longer.
We ask
people to come to the clinic to have a blood sample taken
in the mornings, having had nothing to eat after tea or
supper the night before.
The
blood sample is then sent off to a laboratory in Harley
Street, London, where it is analysed.
The
results are available to us after around 14 – 21
days, and we usually arrange a follow-up appointment in a
month to discuss your results.
How Accurate are the Results?
No test
can be 100% accurate. This test is probably as
accurate as can be.
At
Better Health we have always approached new treatments,
new tests and new therapies with an analytical,
scientific approach – are they as good as they claim
to be?
Currently
available and previous tests for cancer have been vague
and of limited accuracy or limited usefulness. For
example, the PSA test for prostate cancer is accurate,
but only for prostate cancer, X-rays are useful in a
large number of cancers but may miss many cancers, and is
not specific enough to confirm the diagnosis.
A low DR-70
level is normal, and implies that there is no cancer in
the body; a medium level of DR-70 implies the
presence of early cancer, but the test should be repeated
to confirm the result and to look for an upward trend (which
would be much more indicative of cancer); high DR-70
levels are highly indicative of invasive cancer, and
further tests should be done to search for the cancer
site.
What Advice Do You Get?
If the
DR-70 levels are low or normal, then the presence of
cancer is highly unlikely. A follow up test should be
carried out in 12 – 24 months.
If the
DR-70 levels are moderately raised then the test should
be repeated, possibly with other tests looking for other
signs of cancer.
If the
DR-70 levels are high, then further tests should be
carried out, looking for signs of cancer.
Further
tests should include physical / clinical examination,
blood tests, and possibly X-rays or other imaging tests. Further
tests may be indicated according to individual
requirements.
In the
presence of high, or moderately raised, DR-70 tests, we
would advise that you seek further advice from your own
doctor or GP. We will provide you with the test
results and explanation of the test results to show your
doctor, and any further information that he or she needs.
We would
expect that further tests would be carried out to
investigate the presence of cancer as above.
Further
advice is available from Better Health on request, and we
would also give you advice regarding diet and lifestyle
in relation to cancer, the use of diet and nutritional
supplements, and the use of herbal and other
complementary and alternative medicines in cancer support.
How Much Does it Cost?
The cost
of the DR-70 test is £125, which includes taking and
processing the blood test prior to sending forward to the
laboratory, and a follow up consultation for the test
result.
Further
charges apply for any further consultations, tests or
treatments, and these will be discussed with you fully as
necessary.
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~bhealth/cancertest.htm
