Are Saliva Tests the Future of Cancer Screening?

Each day, our salivary glands produce 500 to 1,500 mL of saliva to aid digestion and preserve oral health.

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A recent Smithsonian article discussed the concept of using saliva for cancer detection. Researchers are exploring the use of saliva to identify biomarkers, molecules that indicate the presence of cancer. Saliva-based tests have the advantage of being non-invasive, easy to administer, and can be performed in a clinical setting or even in the comfort of your own home. They also have the potential of detecting a range of cancers, including oral, breast, lung, and pancreatic cancer.

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