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29 – The Dallas Cowboys Are Detecting Cancer Early
09/24/2025
29 – The Dallas Cowboys Are Detecting Cancer Early
In this episode of The Cancer SIGNAL, Tad Carper, Senior VP of Communications for the Dallas Cowboys, shares how a multi-cancer early detection (MCED) screening unexpectedly revealed a cancer signal for head and neck cancer—despite experiencing no symptoms. The test, sponsored for the team’s assistant coaches by quarterback Dak Prescott’s foundation, Faith Fight Finish, was the first step toward Tad’s stage two cancer diagnosis. Tad reflects on the emotional and mental impact of his diagnosis, the importance of early detection, and how the experience reshaped his values—deepening his appreciation for life, relationships, and the power of proactive health care. His story highlights the critical role of accessibility, awareness, and advocacy in cancer detection, and his commitment to “paying it forward” by helping others take early action in their own health journeys. Watch the full episode on YouTube: Help shape future episodes by taking our survey: Transcripts: Sign up for GRAIL’s newsletter: The Galleri test does not detect a signal for all cancers. Not all cancers can be detected in the blood. False positive and false negative results do occur. The Galleri is a screening test and does not diagnose cancer. Diagnostic testing is needed to confirm cancer. The Galleri test should be used in addition to healthcare provider–recommended screening tests. See Important Safety Information: The overall sensitivity in study participants with head and neck cancer was 85.7% (63.2% for stage I, 82.4% stage II, 84.2% stage III, 96.0% stage IV). Based on a clinical study of people ages 50 to 79, around 1% are expected to receive a Cancer Signal Detected result. After diagnostic evaluation, around 40% of these people are expected to have a confirmed cancer diagnosis.
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