NEW BLOOD TEST OFFERS HOPE FOR EARLY DETECTION OF OVARIAN CANCER SCIENTISTS are using a new blood test which could save lives by picking up ovarian cancer early enough to beat the disease. Seventy per cent of British women diagnosed with ovarian cancer die of it one of the worst survival rates in Europe. Thats why doctors call it the silent killer, as symptoms such as bloating or stomach pain sometimes only develop when the cancer is too advanced to treat. Now the OvPlex test, developed in Australia, offers hope in particular to women with a family history of the disease. Dr Cameron Martin, a cancer specialist at Edinburghs private Spire Murrayfield Hospital, where the test is available, said it could help survival rates. Dr Martin said: Ovarian cancer is the most fatal gynaecological cancer. If we can detect it at an earlier stage, patients have a far better outlook. A test that can detect ovarian cancer at an early stage is potentially very significant. Around 6600 British women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year. But if picked up early, 90 per cent of patients will survive five years. The new test, which detects increased levels of five proteins in the blood, was found to be 94 per cent accurate in diagnosing ovarian cancer. Ovacome, the charity dedicated to helping women and families suffering from the disease, have welcomed the test. Ovacome chief executive Louise Bayne said: The test is an exciting development. We eagerly anticipate any new diagnostic tool and the trial data indicates excellent potential. For more details about the test, which costs 275 and is not yet available on the NHS, log on to www. ovplex.co.uk or contact Spire Healthcare on www. spirehealthcare.com or 0131 316 2507. LISA ADAMS HEARTENED : Dr Martin Reproduced by Durrants under licence from the NLA (newspapers), CLA (magazines), FT (Financial Times/ft.com) or other copyright owner. No further copying (including printing of digital cuttings), digital reproduction/forwarding of the cutting is permitted except under licence from the copyright owner. All FT content is copyright The Financial Times Ltd. Article Page 1 of 1 159865268 -
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