There has been a recent "sensational" article in the Arizona Republic and a spot on Channel 15 talking about the BT blood test designed to detect Breast Cancer. Understandably, this is definitely of great interest to our hungry news media. A 'PSA' like test for breast cancer would be wonderful.

As a physician, I am concerned, however, about the message being heard by women in our community about this test. The fact is this test is still being investigated! The facts are:

• The initial numbers they are basing their statistics on are small!
• Of 35 biopsy proven cancers, 22 of these showed the tumor marker in the blood - a 63% sensitivity rate.
• We have no idea idea of how many false negatives there are (meaning - the patient actually has cancer but it has not been detected yet).
• This test still has not completed a Phase II Trial or been validated by an Independent Review Board, which is a process all scientific studies must go through. These patients are actually paying for the Phase II Trial! Patients are being asked to ask their doctor about this test and are being charged $395 for the blood test.
• The information on the company's website is misleading and several of my patients took away the message that it is a better screening test than mammography and are asking if they still need a mammogram.

Women still need mammograms!

Women whose cancers are found on annual screening mammography have an 87% survival rate.

Women whose cancers are found by other means, as they do not undergo annual screenings, have only a 50% survival rate.

These percentages have survived countless, thorough scientific trials over the last 30 years!


Thank you for taking the time to read this and for your support!

Sincerely,
Dr. Belinda Barclay-White