Manchester: Scientists have developed a new blood test Which can help doctors to better treat people with skin cancer.
The test, called liquid biopsy, is currently in the experimental stages, but experts are hopeful that in the future it could be used to help doctors make difficult decisions, such as when to start and stop treatment for people with the disease on a regular basis. .
The most common way to find out how the cancer is being treated is a CT scan, which provides detailed pictures of the inside of the body, and patients with melanoma (a type of cancer) have these scans every few months.
This scan helps doctors mark whether the tumor has shrunk or grown or if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
The whole process requires a lot of time and staff and the patient has to spend half a day in the hospital. But this new test could offer patients and doctors a much simpler option.
This test looks for cancer DNA circulating in the blood. A low amount of DNA indicates that the treatment is effective and the cancer is in remission. But a high dose is considered to mean that the treatment is not effective.
According to doctors, the results of the test can be provided within days, which means that the changes taking place can be seen in real time. And being a blood test it can be done by anyone.
The research was carried out at Manchester-based Christie NHS Foundation Trust and was led by Professor Paul Lorigan.
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