letter from htx

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 -