A conversation about early cancer detection on Moore in the Morning

Recently on Toronto’s most listened to morning show, Newstalk 1010’s Moore in the Morning, host John Moore shared a story about a personal loss that underscores a critical reality: cancer is often hardest to treat when it’s discovered too late.  

This experience led into an interview and important conversation with Medcan Senior Medical Consultant and Dedicated Care physician, Dr. Scott Gledhill, about the importance of early detection, and how new screening technologies are helping to fill critical gaps. Here are some of the highlights from their conversation: 

Current cancer screening limitations in Canada 

In Canada, standardized screening protocols exist for four cancers – breast, cervical, colorectal and lung – based on strict criteria tied to prevalence and evidence. Prostate cancer also has proactive screening guidelines, though there is no national consensus on population‑wide screening.  

Standard screening tests are critical and effective. However, as Dr. Gledhill pointed out, “Currently, we only have set protocols for four different types of cancers. Some of those are invasive such as with colonoscopy, CT scans for lung cancers, which comes with radiation exposure - the current options are not without setbacks and limitations. Beyond that, there’s a real void in screening for the majority of cancers.” 

How the Galleri test works to detect 50+ cancer types 

Dr. Gledhill discussed how the Galleri test, a multi-cancer early detection test developed by GRAIL, and offered in Canada through Medcan, helps to close current screening gaps. Unlike traditional screening methods that target a single cancer, the Galleri test screens for a cancer signal associated with more than 50 types of cancer using a simple blood draw. 

“The expectation is to help detect cancers at an earlier stage before symptoms have developed... it tests for 50 different types of cancers,” said Gledhill. He also emphasized how earlier detection is critical as that’s when treatment options and outcomes are generally much better.   

When Moore asked about test accuracy and track record, Dr. Gledhill offered some valuable statistics. “For the 12 deadliest cancers it  has around a 75% catch rate. It’s not perfect, but it’s a tremendous improvement on what we currently have.” He added that the test is meant to enhance, not replace the cancer screening options that we currently have in Canada.  

If a cancer signal is found, the test can also indicate where in the body it is likely originating, with over 90% accuracy. “This helps physicians quickly direct follow-up testing to confirm a diagnosis and begin treatment earlier,” said Dr. Gledhill. He shared how it is a rigourosly studied test with real-world experience with hundreds of thousands of tests already administered in the U.S. Furthermore, he reported that the test has an “incredibly low” false positive rate of around 0.4%, which is better than most other screening tests that are available today. 

Access and adoption 

At present, Medcan is the first official provider to bring the Galleri test to Canada. It is currently only available at our locations and is not covered by the public healthcare system. Dr. Gledhill shared how cost remains a barrier, in part because samples must be processed in the U.S., where the test has been available for several years. He also emphasized that it is available to anyone. You do not need to be a member of Medcan to access the test. 

Dr. Gledhill expressed hope that, as awareness grows, the test will follow a similar path to non-invasive prenatal testing – another innovation introduced by Medcan in 2013 – that was eventually adopted into public healthcare. “We think it’s an excellent test that has the power to transform cancer.” 

Looking ahead 

With about 2 in 5 Canadians expected to develop cancer in their lifetime, and current statistics reveal that 1 in 4 die from the disease, improving early detection remains one of the most important opportunities in healthcare. 

The interview between Moore and Dr. Gledhill illustrates how innovations like the Galleri test represent a promising step toward catching cancer sooner and changing outcomes for patients and their families.  

Learn more about how the Galleri test works and what we’ve learned from introducing this test in Canada in our recent article: Mult-cancer screening at Medcan: six months of the Galleri test.

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About Dr. Gledhill
Dr. Scott Gledhill is a family physician with 30 years of experience in emergency medicine, surgical assisting, and family practice. He earned his Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the University of Western Ontario and completed his Family Medicine residency at the University of Toronto.​

Dr. Gledhill has been a member of the Medcan team for 15 years, providing M Care and Dedicated Care services. His clinical focus includes cardiac longevity and comprehensive wellness, with a strong emphasis on building meaningful relationships with patients to support both immediate health goals and long-term outcomes.​