New Blood Test Can Spare Cancer Patients From Chemotherapy
Fakhir Rizvi Published October 17, 2018 | 01:55 PM
A simple new blood test being trialled across 40 hospitals in Australia and New Zealand could spare cancer patients from having to undergo unnecessary chemotherapy.
SYDNEY, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Oct, 2018 ) :A simple new blood test being trialled across 40 hospitals in Australia and New Zealand could spare cancer patients from having to undergo unnecessary chemotherapy.
Developed by the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) in Melbourne, the test is able to determine if fragments of tumour DNA are present in a patient's blood after they've had tumours surgically removed.
At present, there is no clear way to tell if a tumour has been entirely removed or not, so patients after surgery are given chemotherapy treatment a precautionary measure.
"While chemotherapy is an essential, life-saving treatment, we don't want patients receiving it if they don't need it. We want to help these patients avoid serious and ongoing side-effects associated with chemotherapy," trial lead Associate Professor Jeanne Tie, who is a clinician scientist at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute said in a statement on Wednesday.
But as well as sparing patients from a wide range of harmful side effects which include pain, fatigue, nausea, digestive issues, bleeding problems, fertility issues, increased susceptibility to infection, heart, lung, nerve and memory problems, the test will may also be able to detect if a patient requires an increased dose of chemotherapy.
"We would like to be able to tell some patients that they can safely avoid chemotherapy because their cancer is unlikely to recur," Tie said.
"But for patients who are at a high risk of recurrence, we want to be able to give them a more intensive dose of chemotherapy than those with a lower risk of recurrence."Initially focused on early stage bowel cancer patients in 2015, the success of the trial saw the test then extend to help women with ovarian cancer in 2017.
Around 400 patients have already taken part in the trial and there are now plans to expand the program to 2000 before it finishes up in 2021.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 26 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 26 April 2024
ICC Womens T20 World Cup Qualifier, Match 2: Ireland Women open with Comfortable ..
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
Shahzeb Chachar to hold khuli kachehri on April 26
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
Court adjourns Judicial Complex attack case till May 17
Nasreen Noori’s book ‘Popatan Jahra Khwab’ launched
Wafaqi Mohtasib inspection team visits Excise and taxation office
AJLAC announces 5th Conference titled ‘People’s Mandate: Safeguarding Civil ..
Pak-US officials engage to enhance trade, investment ties
More Stories From Health
-
Vaccines save at least 154 million lives in 50 years: WHO
2 days ago -
UHS to issue MBBS degrees within three months after final result
2 days ago -
Rawalpindi woman gives birth to six babies
7 days ago -
DC calls for intensive anti-polio drive in ICT
8 days ago -
World Hemophilia Day observed to underscore importance of providing comprehensive care
9 days ago -
Six in a family with heart on the 'right side'
9 days ago
-
Diabetic disease increasing rapidly : Dr. Noor Elahi Memon
9 days ago -
World Hemophilia Day observed
9 days ago -
ATC dismisses bail petition of doctor involved in illegal kidneys transplant
17 days ago -
Dr. Shehzad warns against deviation from WHO guidelines on anti-smoking
17 days ago -
Health activists express concerns over attempts to derail tobacco control
19 days ago -
UHS declares MBBS first prof, MS urology exam results
28 days ago