Melanoma, the most dangerous kind of skin cancer, is difficult to detect, but that could change in the near future, researchers from the University of Dundee claim.
They said they have devised a simple blood test that identifies elevated levels of a certain gene in patients' DNA that they say could be the key to preventing the disease.
Researchers now claim they have discovered a straightforward test that identifies to what extent the skin cancer has spread. The research team presented their findings at a recent conference for the National Cancer Research Institute.
"By using a blood test, we have the basis of a simple and accurate way of discovering how advanced the disease is, as well as an early warning sign of whether it has started to spread," Dr. Tim Crook, study author and consultant medical oncologist at the University of Dundee, told the BBC.
"This would give doctors and patients important information much sooner than is possible at the moment."."