ReachMDMCED Technology & Its Role in Early Cancer Detection: What Do We Need to Know?

The Clinician’s Roundtable on ReachMD podcast, sponsored by GRAIL, featured Dr. Vershalee Shukla, who discussed the implementation of multi-cancer early detection screening (MCED). Dr. Shukla highlighted the limitations of currently available cancer detection tools, including mammography, colonoscopy, and skin exams, which have low sensitivity and compliance rates. In contrast, MCED screening is a simple blood test that looks for DNA methylation patterns in the blood to detect cancers and indicate their origin. Patients who are at high risk, such as those with family histories of cancer, genetic predispositions, and patients over 50 years old, should consider MCED screening. Utilizing MCED screening has enriched Dr. Shukla’s program and improved early detection rates of rare and aggressive cancers.

Dr. Shukla emphasized that education is a critical aspect of implementing MCED screening in clinical practice. Patients must understand that MCED screening is not a replacement for routine cancer screenings but rather an additive tool to detect rare and aggressive cancers. Staff must also be educated to counsel patients correctly and understand that a negative MCED result does not necessarily mean that the patient is cancer-free. The physical implementation of MCED screening is straightforward, requiring a simple blood draw, and the results can be obtained in ten days.