Questions to ask your doctor: Cancer Blood Tests 2026: Galleri, Shield and MCED Explained

A printable checklist to take to your appointment. Based on our guide Cancer Blood Tests 2026: Liquid Biopsy, MCED, Galleri and Shield Explained.

1. Am I up to date with the standard screening tests recommended for my age and sex?
2. Do I fit the group this test was designed and studied for?
3. How good is this test at finding the cancers I am most at risk of, especially early-stage ones?
4. Is the test approved by a regulator, or is it a laboratory-developed test?
5. What exactly happens if my result is positive, which tests would follow, and who pays for them?
6. What should I do if my result is negative, and how often would I need to repeat the test?
7. Do I have symptoms or a family history that mean I need a different test instead?
8. Would an inherited cancer risk test be more useful for me than a screening blood test?
9. Is there a clinical trial I could join?
10. What will the whole process cost me, including follow-up?

Also worth asking

1. Can a blood test detect cancer early?
2. Is the Galleri test FDA approved?
3. Can a blood test replace a colonoscopy?
4. How much does the Galleri test cost?

My notes

This checklist is general information, not medical advice. Your doctor knows your situation best.