If found early enough, melanomas can often be cured by surgery alone, said the television station. But occasionally, a few cells escape the scalpel. Those cells can show up in the body months or even years later. Cancer Institute Dr. Donald Morton told CBS 2 News the blood test helps identify those at greatest risk. Eight out of 10 patients testing negative will not have a recurrence of cancer over that time, reported CBS 2 News.
Doctors note that test figures turn out to be wrong about one-fourth of the time.
Doctors at the institute say the test could benefit nationwide screening programs because it's cheap and easy to perform. Researchers also expect the test to help doctors and patients decide how closely to schedule checkups, and whether to step up treatment before the cancer can be seen or felt. More than a dozen other hospitals will spend the next year trying out the test on their patients.