This New Cancer Blood Test Just Cleared a Big FDA Hurdle

The Trend: Cancer screening used to be something you waited for your doctor to bring up. Now people are getting much more proactive and paying out of pocket to look for problems before symptoms show up. An FDA advisory panel just recommended approving Galleri, a $949 blood test they say can detect more than 50 types of cancer in people 50 and older. Full-body MRI scans are getting attention too, with celebrities like Busy Phillips crediting them for catching tumors early.

What People Are Saying: Scary stories of these tests catching hidden aneurysms and brain tumors can make it feel like getting one is an easy “yes.” But researchers want more proof, especially because Galleri missed many cancers in its major trials (especially early-stage ones) and it hasn’t yet been shown to reduce cancer deaths. That’s because scans often find harmless cysts or nonspecific findings that may lead to unnecessary follow-up biopsies or procedures.

What to Know: These newer tests and scans shouldn’t replace more established routine screenings like mammograms and colonoscopies. A clean result doesn’t guarantee you’re cancer-free either, since blood tests and scans can both miss things. So talk through the pros and cons with your doctor before spending hundreds or thousands of dollars.