Without pain and without symptoms: how Rob discovered his cancer
Rob, a resident of England, felt perfectly healthy until the 'Galleri' blood test—a screening tool for early cancer detection—twice flagged a potential issue. Subsequent examinations revealed stage 1 cancer at the base of his tongue. How does this test work, who is it for, and how can it be accessed in Israel?
The first time Rob received the phone call, he was at work. A few weeks earlier, he had provided a blood sample as part of the NHS-Galleri study, thinking little of it. Rob felt fine, worked as usual, and had no symptoms. Then came the unexpected news: "They told me a signal indicating cancer had been detected," he recalls. While the 'Galleri' test is not a diagnostic tool on its own, it can detect cancer signals; in his case, it pointed to the head and neck area.
Robert, a carpenter from Shropshire, joined the study at age 55, partly because both his parents had passed away from cancer. "A simple blood test—why wouldn't I do it?" he says. Even when the result came back, Rob felt healthy, and his specialist was initially surprised to see him given the complete absence of symptoms.
Initial MRI and pan-endoscopy scans were inconclusive. However, a year later, a second blood sample triggered the same alert. This time, a targeted biopsy confirmed squamous cell carcinoma at the base of the tongue—a stage 1, very early-stage cancer. "The test didn't replace the doctors, but it pointed them in the right direction," Rob notes.
What is the 'Galleri' test?
'Galleri' is an MCED (Multi-Cancer Early Detection) test designed to identify over 50 types of cancer from a single blood sample. It is intended to complement, not replace, standard screening tests like mammograms or colonoscopies.
Rob's story highlights the life-saving potential of early detection. Without the test, the disease might have progressed to a much more advanced stage. Following radiation and chemotherapy in early 2025, Rob received the news he had been waiting for: he was cancer-free. Today, he is back to work and his daily routine.
Study Findings
Data presented at the ASCO 2026 conference, involving over 142,000 participants, showed significant promise. While the primary goal of reducing late-stage mortality for 12 specific cancer types was not fully met, researchers observed a 26% decrease in stage 4 diagnoses by the third round of testing. Furthermore, adding 'Galleri' to standard screening programs increased the detection of stage 1 and 2 cancers by 16%.
In Israel, the 'Galleri' test is available through Oncotest. It is recommended for individuals aged 50 and over, those with a family history of cancer, carriers of high-risk genetic mutations, and cancer survivors.
For more information about the test >> click here.
To order the test >> click here.
Sponsored by Oncotest.
