A New Way to Screen for Cancer: The Galleri® Test Is Now Available at Simply Midland
When it comes to cancer, timing matters. Detecting cancer in its earliest stages can significantly expand treatment options and improve outcomes. While routine screenings like mammograms, colonoscopies, and Pap smears remain essential, they only screen for a handful of cancers. Many cancers—including pancreatic, ovarian, liver, and esophageal cancers—have no recommended screening test for people without symptoms.
That's where the Galleri® Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Test comes in.
Using a simple blood draw, Galleri is designed to detect a shared biological signal associated with more than 50 types of cancer, many of which currently have no standard screening options. At Simply Midland, we're excited to offer this innovative test as another tool to help patients take a proactive approach to their health.
How Does the Galleri Test Work?
Every day, cells throughout your body release tiny fragments of DNA into your bloodstream, known as cell-free DNA (cfDNA). Cancer cells also release DNA, but these fragments often contain unique DNA methylation patterns—chemical markers that differ from healthy cells.
Galleri uses advanced next-generation sequencing and artificial intelligence to analyze these methylation patterns. Rather than looking for one specific cancer, the test searches for a common biological signal shared across many different cancers.
If no cancer signal is detected, your results simply report "No Cancer Signal Detected." If a signal is found, Galleri can also predict the Cancer Signal Origin (CSO)—the part of the body where the cancer most likely began—with approximately 89% accuracy, helping guide the next steps in evaluation.
What Types of Cancer Can It Detect?
Galleri screens for more than 50 cancer types, including many that are traditionally difficult to detect early.
These include cancers of the:
Pancreas
Ovary
Liver
Esophagus
Gallbladder
Kidney
Head and neck
Small intestine
Bone and soft tissue
Certain blood cancers, including multiple myeloma and lymphoma
Many of these cancers don't cause symptoms until later stages, making early detection especially valuable. Check out the entire list of cancers the Galleri test screens for.
What Does the Research Show?
Galleri is backed by several large clinical studies involving tens of thousands of participants.
The PATHFINDER Study, which enrolled more than 6,600 adults aged 50 and older, demonstrated that the test could be successfully integrated into routine clinical care. Participants with a positive result were able to undergo appropriate follow-up testing, and Galleri accurately identified the likely cancer origin in nearly 9 out of 10 cases.
More recently, the PATHFINDER 2 Study included over 35,000 participants across the United States and Canada. Researchers found that adding Galleri alongside routine cancer screening substantially increased the number of cancers detected compared to standard screening alone. Notably, approximately 71% of Galleri-detected cancers were diagnosed in Stages I through III, when treatment is generally more effective, and nearly three-quarters of those cancers had no existing recommended screening test.
These findings continue to support Galleri's potential as an important addition to preventive healthcare.
Who Should Consider Galleri?
Galleri is generally intended for adults 50 years and older, as cancer risk naturally increases with age. It may also be appropriate for certain younger individuals with elevated risk factors, such as a strong family history of cancer or other clinical considerations.
The test is not intended for people who are pregnant, under 21 years old, or currently undergoing active cancer treatment.
A healthcare provider can help determine whether Galleri is appropriate based on your personal health history.
Galleri Complements—Not Replaces—Routine Screenings
One of the most important things to understand is that Galleri is not a replacement for recommended cancer screenings.
You should continue to receive routine preventive screenings such as:
Mammograms (or QT Imaging, ultrasounds)
Colonoscopies
Pap smears and HPV testing
Low-dose CT lung screening (when appropriate), chest x-rays
Other screenings recommended by your healthcare provider
Instead, Galleri provides an additional layer of screening, helping detect cancers that traditional screening methods may not identify.
Why Early Detection Matters
Many cancers don't produce noticeable symptoms until they've reached a more advanced stage. By the time symptoms develop, treatment options may be more limited.
While no screening test can detect every cancer, expanding our ability to identify cancers earlier represents an exciting advancement in preventive medicine. Detecting cancer before symptoms appear may provide more treatment options and improve long-term outcomes.
Now Available at Simply Midland
At Simply Midland, we believe healthcare is most effective when it focuses on prevention—not just treating illness after it develops.
That's why we're proud to offer the Galleri Multi-Cancer Early Detection Test for $950.
The appointment includes a simple blood draw, physician review of your results, and guidance on any recommended next steps if a cancer signal is detected.
If you're interested in learning whether Galleri is right for you, we'd love to answer your questions and help you make an informed decision about your health!
