The UK's National Health Service (NHS) has launched a large trial to find out whether simple blood tests can help doctors spot 13 types of cancer earlier. These include bowel, pancreatic, liver and ovarian cancer. More than 20,000 patients who have symptoms such as constant bloating or discomfort in the abdomen are being invited to take part. The trial will run across more than 200 GP practices in England. • Tiny pieces of DNA that tumours release into the bloodstream • Proteins linked to the body's response to cancer A single blood sample could pick up signals linked to several cancer types. It may also give doctors a clue about where in the body the cancer started. Also Read: What Is Rhabdomyolysis? The Rare Muscle Condition That Turned Fatal for NYC Marathon Runner Rachel Apa Together, these cancers cause around 35,000 deaths every year in England. Another test, Signatera, is already used by the NHS to check whether certain cancers have come back after treatment. It finds circulating tumour DNA, which are small bits of genetic material that cancer cells shed into the blood. Many cancers in the abdomen are found only at a late stage. This is because their early signs are easy to mistake for stomach upsets or other common problems. Symptoms like bloating, belly discomfort, changes in bowel habits, weight loss without a clear reason and loss of appetite can have many causes. This makes it hard for both patients and doctors to suspect cancer early on. The stage at which cancer is found makes a big difference. According to the trial announcement, about nine in 10 people diagnosed with stage 1 bowel cancer live for at least five years. For those diagnosed at stage 4, it is only about one in 10. Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer and chair of the Office for Life Sciences Cancer Goal, said, "Detecting abdomen cancer early is notoriously difficult because the symptoms can easily be mistaken for other less serious conditions, but the NHS is determined to find a solution." He added, "We are at the start of revolution in cancer diagnosis, and this trial will help us to find out whether blood tests can help GPs get the right patients to the right tests sooner, supporting earlier diagnosis when treatment is most likely to be successful." Health Secretary Yvette Cooper also spoke about the value of finding cancer sooner. "The earlier cancers are diagnosed, the more chance they can be successfully treated and lives can be saved," she said. "This world-first trial will establish whether simple blood tests can help GPs identify much sooner the patients who need urgent support." Senior Copy Editor at Times Network, Akanksha Arora covers Lifestyle, Culture and everything that falls under its big umbrella. When not writing, she ... View More