How Mayo Clinic is helping people diagnose and treat cancer earlier for better outcomes.
Cancer diagnosed in people under 50 — known as early-onset cancer — is rising. As researchers investigate this trend, doctors emphasize that early detection and recommended screenings are more important than ever.
Mayo Clinic in Arizona is at the forefront of early cancer detection with innovative programs designed to identify cancer at its earliest and most treatable stages. By diagnosing and intervening sooner, Mayo Clinic aims to help young people with cancer achieve better outcomes and, ideally, live long, healthy lives.
Multi-cancer Detection Clinic
Mayo Clinic’s Multi-cancer Detection (MCD) Clinic allows people to screen for multiple cancers at once. MCD testing is especially valuable for detecting deadly cancers that don’t have established screening guidelines. With a single blood draw, these tests can identify most potentially life-threatening cancers by searching for blood biomarkers and may even help doctors pinpoint the origin of the disease. Currently, only five cancers have recommended screening options—colorectal, breast, cervical, prostate, and lung. For the majority of cancers, no early detection methods exist, highlighting the importance of multi-cancer detection (MCD) tests as a new option.
“Using multi-cancer detection, we can take a blood sample and identify a cancer signal well before symptoms appear or imaging can detect it — when intervention is still possible,” says Dr. Jewel Samadder, a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist.
In many cases, early detection is lifesaving. “Survival for esophageal cancers is about 20% if found late, but jumps to 80% when caught early,” explains Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist Dr. Prasad Iyer, who specializes in the early and endoscopic treatment of esophageal cancer. Early diagnosis gives people more treatment options and often results in a better quality of life. “For example, early-stage esophageal cancer can usually be successfully treated with endoscopy, without the need for major surgery, sparing the esophagus and improving the quality of life for these patients,” says Dr. Iyer.
Early Onset and Hereditary GI Cancers Program
Mayo Clinic also offers a unique program for people under 55 with a new diagnosis of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer or a genetic or inherited predisposition to GI cancers. The Early Onset and Hereditary GI Cancers Program guides patients through genetic diagnosis, cancer screening for themselves and their families, and offers personalized support and treatment planning — from surgery options to precision therapies. It’s the only program to focus on early onset and inherited cancers of its kind in Arizona.
The program is designed to meet the specific needs of young cancer patients, offering coordinated appointments with specialists across gastroenterology, oncology, surgery, radiation oncology, pain management, gynecology or urology, adolescent and young adult social services, infertility counseling, and more — ensuring the needs of each patient are met.
“We build a comprehensive care team around each young person with colorectal cancer,” notes Dr. Samadder. “At that stage of life, patients may have young children, career demands, or be planning to grow their family. That’s very different from scenarios faced by older adults. We streamline visits so the patient can meet all relevant specialists, and we work together as a team to develop the best care plan.”
Innovations that improve lives
Mayo Clinic excels at transforming lab discoveries into real-world benefits. Dr. Iyer is particularly proud of Mayo’s collaboration with biotech manufacturer Exact Sciences, which resulted in a popular at-home stool-based DNA test for colorectal cancer — offering a screening alternative to traditional colonoscopy, which is now widely used.
Other upcoming innovations in cancer detection developed at Mayo Clinic include a five-minute in-office non-endoscopic test for early detection of Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer, expected to be available next year, and cutting-edge AI-enabled tools for predicting esophageal and pancreas cancer risk from a patient’s medical and imaging records, which will allow the identification of patients who would benefit the most from these innovative cancer detection tests.
Advances in genomic sequencing are also allowing for more personalized treatments and better outcomes. As co-director of Mayo Clinic’s Precision Oncology Program, Dr. Samadder and his colleagues want to integrate genomic sequencing into the diagnosis and care of every patient with cancer that comes to Mayo Clinic. By analyzing someone’s genes, doctors can assess the person’s risk for cancer and other diseases. If cancer develops, molecular and genetic profiling of the tumor can reveal specific changes, helping doctors select targeted treatments that have been shown to improve survival.
Comprehensive cancer care
“What’s unique at Mayo is that we don’t just detect cancer earlier — we offer the world-class expertise and complete spectrum of treatments under one roof,” says Dr. Iyer. Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center is made up of three integrated sites in Arizona, Minnesota, and Florida, treating more than 200 cancer types, including rare or complex cases. And Mayo Clinic’s multidisciplinary model means the right specialists are often just down the hall.
“If someone’s test shows a potential signal for cancer, we see them within 72 hours and can quickly provide diagnosis to precision therapy from a team of experts,” Dr. Samadder says. “From genomic sequencing to identify their risk, through counseling and comprehensive family care, to clinical trials, preventive surgery, and advanced therapeutics and clinical trials — we do it all.”
To request an appointment or learn more, visit Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center’s website.
