NHS to roll out world-first blood test for cancer
Peer reviewed by Dr Colin Tidy, MRCGPAuthored by Lawrence HigginsOriginally published 29 May 2025
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People with lung and breast cancer – two of the most common forms of cancer - will be offered a ‘revolutionary’ new blood test, which will help speed up and personalise their treatment.
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Revolutionary liquid biopsy
Around 20,000 people with lung or breast cancer will benefit from a new "liquid biopsy" test, which can give a diagnosis up to two weeks earlier than the traditional tissue biopsy. The NHS is the first healthcare system in the world to introduce this blood test.
The test takes a blood sample to look for tiny fragments of tumour DNA, with results available within 1-2 days. If you have this test, doctors can then use this information to choose a more personalised treatment to target your specific cancer. It could also help you avoid further tests and treatments.
Cutting edge testing
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer says: “Cutting-edge genomic testing is helping us deliver more targeted and kinder care for patients, enabling some to avoid more intensive treatments such as further chemotherapy, which can have a huge impact.”
The liquid biopsy has already been tested on around 10,000 people with lung cancer as part of an NHS pilot. The NHS is now looking at how the liquid biopsy could be used for other cancers. Johnson said: “This approach has the potential to help us ‘scan’ the body in a single blood test to see where and how cancer may be developing and target it with speed and precision to help save more lives.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the “incredibly exciting new test" could save countless lives.
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Cancer symptoms
If you are worried about having cancer visit your doctor as soon as possible – here are the symptoms you should never ignore.
Breast cancer
According to UK Cancer Research, breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK with around 57,000 new breast cancer cases every year. Finding a lump in your breast is unlikely to be cancer, as there are several other possible causes, but you should always get checked out.
Symptoms to look out for include:
A lump or thickening in your breast or armpit.
A change in the size or shape of your breast.
Changes to the texture of your skin - such as dimpling, or redness.
Liquid is leaking from your nipple if you are not pregnant or breastfeeding.
Constant pain in your breast or armpit that does not go away.
Whilst breast cancer in men is rare, any lumps or changes to breast tissue or the skin on the chest need to be check out by a doctor.
Find out how to check your breasts here.
Lung Cancer
There are around 49,000 new lung cancer cases in the UK every year - more than 130 every day - meaning it is the third most common cancer in the UK. Getting diagnosed and treated as soon as possible is vital to your chances of survival.
Your doctor should refer you for an urgent chest X-ray if you're over 40 and have two or more of these symptoms with no other explanation - or one of the symptoms if you are, or have been a smoker.
A cough that does not go away after 3 weeks, or gets worse.
Recurring chest infections.
Coughing up blood.
It hurts when you breath or cough.
Constantly short of breath.
Always feeling tired.
Unexplained appetite or weight loss.
Article history
The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.
Next review due: 29 May 2028
29 May 2025 | Originally published
Authored by:
Lawrence HigginsPeer reviewed by
Dr Colin Tidy, MRCGP
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