Learn More about PAULAs Test

Early Detection Saves Lives

INTRODUCING PAULA’s Test+

PAULA’s Test+™ PAULAs test is more than just a lab test. It uses an innovative way to calculate cancer risk which combines the results from multiple cancer blood tests and important data from your own personal health history to generate the most accurate lung cancer risk profile available.

PAULAs Test starts by testing running several cancer markers, known tumor markers, which are proteins associated with the presence of cancer or other causes. This tumor markers can be elevated in persons with cancer at the early stages of development, even though no symptoms may yet appear.

A risk calculating algorithm utilizes machine learning to combine these biomarker values with your own important information (age, smoking history, and prior lung ailments) to generate a risk score.

WHY GET TESTED?

Early detection is very important if you are at elevated risk of developing lung cancer.  A person’s risk of developing lung cancer is largely tied to exposure to smoking or other known carcinogens.  Most cases of lung cancer are not diagnosed until the disease reaches late stages, but when detected early, long term survival can approach 90%.  As documented in many studies, Early detection of lung cancer saves lives!

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. exceeding deaths from breast, colon, and prostate cancer combined.    Many studies have shown that survival largely depends on how early the disease is diagnosed and treated. Several options for early detection and screening for lung cancer are available today, including PAULAs Test, but some of these options may be available only to persons who meet certain criteria.

WHAT ARE YOUR RISKS FOR LUNG CANCER?

PAULA’s Test can help you know your risk for actually having lung cancer.   Other publicly available tools are available online which can calculate your odds of developing lung cancer over time.   Current U.S. Government screening guidelines recommend screening with CT scans for persons who are at highest risk for developing lung cancer, but some persons at elevated risk may not qualify for these screening services.

WHY IS EARLY DETECTION SO IMPORTANT?

Finding and treating cancer at an early stage can save lives.

Cancer that’s diagnosed at an early stage, before it’s had the chance to get too big or spread is more likely to be treated successfully. If the cancer has spread, treatment becomes more difficult, and generally a person’s chances of surviving are much lower.

Around 70% of lung cancer patients will survive for at least a year if diagnosed at the earliest stage compared to around 14% for people diagnosed with the most advanced stage of disease.

Early diagnosis can increase chances of survival. But improving survival rates is not just down to earlier diagnosis – ensuring patients receive the most effective and appropriate treatment for them is also an important part of the jigsaw.

SCREENING OPTIONS FOR LUNG CANCER (AND THEIR LIMITATIONS)

Medical authorities in the U.S. now recommend lung cancer screening using low-dose CT scans (LDCTs) for individuals that meet certain  criteria:

  • Ages 55-75 years
  • Smoking history of 30 pack-years (meaning a person who smoked an average of 1 pack per day for 30 years or more)
  • Former smokers who quit within the past 15 years

20/20 recommends that all individuals who meet the above criteria undertake yearly LDCTs in accordance with the recommended guidelines of organizations such as the American Cancer Society and American Lung Association.

Unfortunately, fewer than 3% of individuals who qualify for CT screening are currently doing so, according to a study by the American Cancer Society.   In addition, a 2016 study by the Mayo Clinic show that 2/3 of Americans actually diagnosed with lung cancer over the previous 10 years, would fail to qualify to receive LDCT screening.

PAULAs Test may help those at high risk who either do not qualify to receive CT screening or are not currently being screened and are looking to know their lung cancer risk.

WHY LUNG CANCER SCREENING ALONE IS NOT FOR EVERYONE

As discussed in the recommendations by the USPSTF (US Preventive Services Task Force) and in the coverage policies by Medicare and most private insurance companies, lung cancer screening with CT scans may exclude many at high risk for developing lung cancer.  In fact, a recent publication by the Mayo Clinic analyzed thousands of persons diagnosed with lung cancer over the past 10 years and found that more than half of those found with lung cancer would not be eligibile to receive CT based screening today.  

Even today, many doctors do not refer their high risk patients for CT based screening due to obstacles such as eligibility, high false positive rates, exposure to radiation and the need to be screened each year.

THE SCIENCE

PAULAs test is more than just a lab test.  It uses an innovative way to calculate cancer risk which combines the results from several cancer blood tests and important data from your own personal health history to generate the most accurate lung cancer risk profile available.     

PAULAs Test starts by testing running several cancer markers, known tumor markers, which are proteins associated with the presence of cancer or other causes.   This tumor markers can be elevated in persons with cancer at the early stages of development, even though no symptoms may yet appear.   

A risk algorithm utilizes then looks at relevant health data you provide along with the results of the tumor marker blood tests to calculate your risk score.  Individual risk factors include your age, smoking history, and prior lung ailments which can help generate an accurate risk score.  

 

SHARING INFORMATION WITH MY DOCTOR

We encourage you to discuss PAULA’s Test with your doctor as part of a larger conversation about your risks for lung cancer.   When considering your options for screening and other tests for early detection, PAULA’s Test may be an appropriate test for you.  Information is available below which you can print or forward to your doctor.

WHAT DO THE RESULTS TELL ME?

PAULA’s Test shows you your risk for having lung cancer compared with a population of other high risk patients whose cancer outcomes were known. This risk score correlates to the likelihood of having cancer and falls into one of three risk categories: Low, Medium and High.

READY TO ORDER?

You or your physician can order PAULA’S Test directly from our lab.  Click the link below to see how to order.