Breast Cancer Care: Screening is effective

Until further work is carried out to develop saliva tests for cancer, people should be reassured that current detection practices are effective, according to Breast Cancer Care.

Scientists in Texas say a saliva test could one day be carried out during dentist's appointments after they found 49 proteins in saliva that differentiated healthy patients from those with benign breast tumours and those with malignant breast tumours.

But Breast Cancer Care has advised that there have been numerous similar studies and says "we are still a long way from seeing a reliable method".

"This paper from the University of Texas is interesting but, as the researchers state, further evidence is clearly needed. Only ten study participants had breast cancer, so it is very difficult to draw any wider conclusions from the findings," said Antonia Dean, clinical nurse specialist at Breast Cancer Care.

"Women should be reassured that current diagnostic tests, including the NHS National Breast Screening Programme, are extremely effective in detecting breast cancers."

She added: "As well as accepting invitations to regular breast screening, it is vital that women of any age are breast aware throughout their life, by being familiar with how their breasts normally look and feel so that any changes unusual for them can be picked up quickly and reported to their doctor without delay."