Signs of cancer can appear long before diagnosis, study shows

[nitpicker]

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/feb/05/signs-of-cancer-can-appear-long-before-diagnosis-study-shows

Signs of cancer can appear long before diagnosis, study shows

Hannah Devlin Science correspondent

Wed 5 Feb 2020 18.20 GMT Last modified on Thu 6 Feb 2020 01.05 GMT

Early signs of cancer can appear years or even decades before diagnosis, according to the most comprehensive investigation to date of the genetic mutations that cause healthy cells to turn malignant.

The findings, based on samples from more than 2,500 tumours and 38 cancer types, reveal a longer-than-expected window of opportunity in which patients could potentially be tested and treated at the earliest stages of the disease.

The work was carried out as part of the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes project, the most comprehensive study of cancer genetics to date.
(snip)

The discovery that the seeds of cancer are often sown many years before the first symptoms arise will not change cancer screening in the immediate term. But it points to the possibility that those at risk could be spotted far earlier.

The study revealed that about half of the earliest mutations occurred in just nine genes, meaning there is a relatively small pool of common genes that serve as triggers for cells to diverge from healthy development to a path towards cancer. It might be possible, in future, to pick up such mutations using so-called liquid biopsies – genetic tests that detect mutations in free-floating DNA carried in the blood that can indicate the presence of tumours elsewhere in the body.
(snip)

The team analysed and sequenced nearly 2,700 whole genomes of cancer samples and mapped mutations in 38 different types of tumours.

While human cells undergo billions of mutations, only a small number of them, called driver mutations, give rise to cancer. The researchers looked at how many times a single change, or driver mutation, had been replicated and copied across chromosomes.

Using what they describe as a “carbon-dating method”, they were able to reconstruct the order in which the genomes of cancer cells started to accumulate errors and eventually carry large segments that had been scrambled or copied. The team found that these mutations occurred “particularly early” in ovarian cancer as well as in two types of brain tumour, glioblastoma and medulloblastoma.

The analysis is published in Nature as part of a wider collection of 22 papers from the Pan-Cancer project.
(snip)

[empedocles]

1. The Guardian seems quite remarkable and impressive on the news scenes

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. It's very good, and I hope those who can will support their donation model. . . . nt

[paleotn]

7. Exactly.

[pansypoo53219]

3. NPR had somebody weeks or months ago.cancer doc i think.

said our bodies kill cancer all the time until something goes haywire.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. The body is just like the stock market

Technical analysis works great except when things go wrong at the peak

[B Stieg]

5. My dad ( a doctor) died from a glioblastoma...

and my mom from uveal melanoma.
I despise cancer.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

6. Oh my, so sorry. I hate it too. And you just dont

Know the horror until you or someone you love go through it. The sickening treatments, surgeries, loss of hair, weakness, and debilitating fear.

This discovery makes total sense though. Hope once they figure out how to test that figuring out how to stop the bad mutations will not be far behind.

[B Stieg]

8. Thanks, LPMaD. It made for several, tough years.

BTW, love your user name, avatar and posts.

Less than a week until pitchers and catchers report, and the Yanks now have an ace!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

10. I want them to invent something to sustain the feelings you

get when a loved one endures it, and you say"life is fragile, will only care about important stuff" and it lasts for a while and then you go back to reacting to stupid petty stuff.

Are u in NY? In the mood for them to have a great year. I'm from CT.

[B Stieg]

11. Used to be, but I've been in CA for more than a decade

I graduated from Wesleyan, though, so Connecticut will always remain in my heart.
Go Yankees!

[Skittles]

14. this is strange but....

my mum died of cancer and never even took a Tylenol.....the only complication was fluid in the abdomen.....when I saw her on her last day, she looked normal, just like she was sleeping

[rainin]

9. What were the earliest signs of your dad's glioblastoma?

I am so worried about that cancer. I have constant pressure in my ear where I held a cell phone for 10 years.

Sorry for your loss, Stieg

[B Stieg]

12. Thank you. It was about 15 years ago...

but memories of the caregiving experience remain, some unexpectedly joyful, but most very difficult.

The first sign was disorientation. He was working in Upstate NY as a physician in the V.A., and he just started missing work or showing up at the wrong time for his shifts. It turned out he was driving around in circles. At 61, he seemed too young for it to be the result of Alzheimer's. And, eventually, tests showed a tumor wrapped around his brain.

Right after the surgery, the doctor said he would live a year. He was right, to the day.

If you suspect anything is wrong with the head, do NOT hesitate: go see a neurologist!

[rainin]

13. So young at 61. I'm sorry.

I'm 55 and having weird experiences, too, like saying to my spouse that I wish there was such a thing as a potholder in the shape of a glove. Then, looking down and recognizing the potholder gloves I've had for most of my adult life right in front of me. My brain just glitched out. So strange. Scary moment for my spouse.

Thanks for the advice to see a neurologist. I should.