ULTRA-SENSITIVE blood tests could save lives by identifying if breast cancer is likely to return years in advance, say scientists.

The biopsy pinpoints tumour DNA in cells left behind after treatment which conventional follow-up scans miss because there are so few of them.

Scientists say that it is up to 100 times more precise than current tests.

In a trial on 78 women recovering from breast cancer, it correctly identified all those who would relapse, sounding the alarm up to 41 months beforehand.

None of those testing negative did relapse.

Doctors hope the early warning would ensure at-risk patients get the treatment needed to destroy the rogue cancer cells and prevent tumours growing back.

Experts say the findings are ­significant as about three in ten women treated for breast canc

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