There’s still no standard test to detect pancreatic cancer early. Scientists are working to change that [Video]

To spot breast cancer early, there are mammograms. To find colon cancer early, there are colonoscopies. But there is no standard test to detect early cases of pancreatic cancer, before cancer cells have spread and when surgery is more likely to be helpful.Finding pancreatic cancer early could help increase a patient’s chances of survival. Although pancreatic accounts for just about 3% of all new cancer cases in the United States, it’s the third leading cause of cancer deaths and is projected to become the second leading cause of cancer deaths by the end of this decade.Across the United States, research teams are investigating ways to spot early cases, with many turning to blood-based liquid biopsy tests.Related video above: AI tool could predict future pancreatic cancer”This term ‘liquid biopsy,’ essentially, is trying to find markers in the blood that signify a tumor is present – and there are many different ways …