Page 48 - Swsthya Winter Edition Vol 1 Issu 3 DEC 2020 Circulation copy BP

NEWS

Revolutionary that the earlier detection
offers arguably the single
cancer- biggest opportunity to save
lives from the disease.
detecting Early detection of cancer
can be key to reducing its
blood tests to mortality. Patients whose
conditions are diagnosed
be piloted at ‘stage one’ typically have
between five and 10 times the
chance of surviving compared
he NHS launched a pilot
with those found at ‘stage
for an innovative pilot
four’.
Tblood test that claims
The test works by
would help detecting the
checking for molecular
cancers, detect more than 50
changes which can serve as
types of cancer.
early warning signs of cancer.
Announcing this
Research on patients with
initiative, health service Chief
signs of cancer has already potential to save many lives. The trial is due to start in
Executive Sir Simon Stevens
found this new test is capable This promising blood test is mid-2021, involving 165,000
said, “the New blood test
of identifying many types of expected to prove a game- patients as part of a world-first
would be capable of detecting
cancer which are more difficult changer in cancer care, helping deal struck by NHS England
the cancers”. with the test’s developers.
to diagnose early, such as head thousands more people to get
The Galleri blood test The 140,000 participants
and neck, ovarian, pancreatic, successful treatment. Patients
can detect early stage cancers aged 50 to 79 who have no
esophageal and some blood with conditions diagnosed
through a simple blood test. symptoms but will tested
cancers. at ‘stage one’ typically have
Head of prevention and annual for three years. People
One of the ambitions of between five and 10 times the
early detection research at will be identified through
the NHS Long Term Plan, to chance of surviving compared
Cancer Research UK, Dr David NHS records and approached
increase the proportion of with those found at ‘stage
Crosby, said: “All too often, to take part, referring for
cancers caught early, could be four’. NHS Chief Executive Sir
patients are being diagnosed investigation in the NHS.
significantly boosted should Stevens said: “While the good
at a late stage, where their Another 25,000 people with
the test be proven suitable for news is that cancer survival possible cancer symptoms
cancer is deeply rooted
regular use. is now at a record high, over will also be offered testing to
and requires significant
The early detection – a thousand people every day speed up their diagnosis after
intervention, often with poor
particularly for hard-to-treat are newly diagnosed with being referred to hospital in
outcomes”. Highlighting in the
conditions like ovarian and cancer. the normal way.
Lancet Oncology, the Cancer
pancreatic cancer – has the
Research UK’s, emphasised
New treatment recommended for difficult-to-treat cancer
ational Institute option for those whose current treatment options. use on the NHS because of
for Health and Care disease has progressed Approximately 5,700 new uncertainty within the cost-
NExcellence (NICE) in from their last treatment cases of multiple myeloma effectiveness estimates, as
the United Kingdom has if they have had three are diagnosed each year there are limitations in the
approved the treatment – previous forms of treatment. in the UK, making it the clinical data.
isatuximab for the people Many of these patients are fifth most common cancer
with difficult-to-treat those where the disease overall.
multiple myeloma. has returned or become Around 500 people a year
resistant to the treatments The treatment could not be are set to benefit from NICE’s
It is recomdded the use of they’ve already had. recommended for routine recommendation.
this ddruge through the
Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) Meindert Boysen, Deputy
which is a source of funding Chief Executive and Director
for cancer drugs in England. of the Centre for Health
It provides patients with Technology Evaluation at
faster access to the most NICE, said: “Our independent
promising new cancer appraisal committee has
treatments. recognised more treatment
options are needed for
The treatment – isatuximab, those with difficult-to-
administered as an treat multiple myeloma.’
intravenous infusion, plus Adding that Some of the
pomalidomide and data has already showsn
dexamethasone – has been promise that isatuximab
recommended for use as an plus pomalidomide and
option for treating relapsed dexamethasone delays the
and refractory multiple disease from progressing
myeloma in adults. This is and increases how long
to be offered as a treatment people live compared with
48 Volume: 1 I Issue: 3 I 2020