The tests, in plain English
The newest test here is a blood draw that looks for signals from many cancers at once. A signal means more testing, not a diagnosis, and it doesn't replace your regular screenings. The same clinics also offer standard checks like mammograms and stool tests, which your own doctor may already arrange.
Think of a multi-cancer blood test like a smoke alarm for the whole house. When it goes off, you still have to search room by room to find the source, and sometimes there's nothing there.
Multi-cancer blood test
Looks in one blood draw for bits of DNA that cancer cells shed, and guesses where they came from. A signal needs scans and often a biopsy to confirm. No signal does not mean no cancer.
Inherited-risk gene panel
Checks genes you were born with that raise cancer risk. It does not look for cancer itself, but it can change when and how often you get screened. Talking to a genetic counselor before and after is normal.
Mammogram
An X-ray of the breast that finds cancer before it can be felt.
At-home stool test
A kit you mail back that checks for hidden blood or DNA changes linked to colon cancer. A positive result means a colonoscopy next.
Skin check
A doctor looks over your skin for unusual or changing spots. Experts say there is not enough evidence yet that routine checks help people without symptoms.
Cancer in Chicago, by the numbers
The rate of past cancer diagnoses in Chicago is about the same as the national rate. About 1 in 14 adults in Chicago have ever been diagnosed with cancer, other than common skin cancers, compared with about 1 in 13 nationally. That adds up to roughly 450,000 adults across seven counties.
By county
| County | Cancer (other than skin cancer) | Colorectal screening up to date (ages 45 to 75) | Mammogram in the past 2 years (women 50 to 74) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cook | 6.4% | 56.9% | 74.2% |
| DuPage | 8.1% | 65.2% | 76.0% |
| Lake | 7.7% | 61.9% | 75.5% |
| Will | 7.2% | 59.8% | 68.8% |
| Kane | 7.6% | 59.4% | 73.1% |
| McHenry | 8.6% | 63.0% | 75.9% |
| Kendall | 6.7% | 61.7% | 75.7% |
| Chicago | 6.9% | 58.9% | 74.1% |
| United States | 7.8% | 63.8% | 76.1% |
Source: CDC PLACES, 2022 and 2023 county estimates. Chicago = Cook, DuPage, Lake, Kane, McHenry, Will and Kendall counties, weighted by adult population.
longevityclinicshub.comYour regular doctor can tell you which standard screenings are due for your age. Those come first, and the newer tests above are extras, not replacements.
