Dr. Virginia Loewenstine, CEO and medical director of Tristate Preventive Health, answers your questions
Q: I have read there are tests that can now detect cancers before symptoms appear. Would I be a candidate for that testing?
A: Yes, there is new technology and much research is being done on multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests. Two blood tests are now on the market, and while neither is fully FDA approved, they should be soon.
Firefighters face a higher risk of developing cancer, so these tests show great promise in screening for possible problems. If an individual had a positive result on the blood test, a work-up with other testing would be done to provide an accurate diagnosis. Some fire departments have already started this testing and I would encourage discussion within your department.
