Simple blood test can detect breast cancer and lung cancer long before symptoms emerge

A simple blood test can accurately detect the beginning stages of two common cancers long before symptoms appear, scientists claim.

An initial study found the test had a 95 per cent success rate in detecting cancer in participants, including those with breast cancer in stages 0 and 1 and those with lung cancer in stages 1 and 2. Stage 2 is when patients typically begin to display symptoms and are most often diagnosed

The researchers, from Kansas State University, said they were close to testing for pancreatic cancer as well.

The test works by detecting increased enzyme activity in the body, which indicates illness. When enzymes from the patient's blood or urine are mixed with certain amino acids along with a dye, cancers produce a specific pattern or signature