DNA test to detect blood cancer return

GENETIC tests for people with a type of blood cancer could accurately predict if the disease is likely to come back within 18 months of treatment, a study has found.

- By Storm Newton

The method picks up “hidden risks” that traditional tests may miss and could potentially benefit thousands in the UK with multiple myeloma, researchers said.

Multiple myeloma happens when the bone marrow makes abnormal white blood cells, known as plasma cells, causing symptoms such as bone pain, headaches and muscle weakness. It affects around 33,000 people in the UK, with about 6,300 new cases every year.