Cancer Research UKA woman who was diagnosed with skin cancer which spread to her lymph nodes has said she is taking part in a clinical trial to try help other people avoid any “needless treatment”.
Karen Dickinson, 57, from Caton, Lancaster, is one of 50 people trialling a blood test which can spot signs of melanoma returning earlier than scans.
NHS patients are currently offered a one-year preventative drug treatment aimed at reducing the risk of recurrence but researchers at The Christie in Manchester believe “the majority of patients do not need this”.
Ms Dickinson said the blood test could mean “lots of people won’t need to go needlessly down the treatment route when they actually don’t need to”.
Cancer Research UK said rates of melanoma had increased by almost a third over the past decade with about 16,000 people diagnosed with it every year in the UK.
Ms Dickinson was at a routine appointment for her arthritic knee when her osteopath pointed out an irregular looking mole on her back.
The next day, the mother-of-two went to see her GP and further tests revealed she had melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, and it had spread to her lymph nodes.
She had surgery to remove the mole including a wider area of skin as well as the affected lymph nodes.
“It was such a shock,” she told Radio Lancashire.
“It all just happened so fast. They had removed it and diagnosed me with melanoma skin cancer all within a few weeks.”
Researchers at The Christie, The University of Manchester and Southampton Clinical Trials Unit are using the blood test as part of a clinical trial which could lead to quicker diagnoses and avoid unnecessary treatment.
Ms Dickinson had her first blood test as part of the trial at the Royal Preston Hospital and she was told it showed no signs of melanoma.
“The trial will show whether it is more beneficial to have the blood test rather than going down the targeted therapy route,” she said.
“Hopefully the results will show it is beneficial and lots of people won’t need to go needlessly down the treatment route when they actually don’t need to.”
‘Time is precious’
Prof Paul Lorigan, consultant medical oncologist at The Christie, who is leading the trial, which is working closely with charity Melanoma Focus, said: “While immunotherapy or targeted therapy after surgery can help to prevent cancer returning, the majority of patients do not need this.
“Giving this treatment to everyone means many patients may unnecessarily receive additional treatment, which can have serious and long-term side effects.
“Ideally, only patients likely to have the melanoma return would receive the additional treatment and we therefore want to see if we can use a simple blood test to spot those patients who are most at risk.”
Ms Dickinson, who is originally from Bury, Greater Manchester, said she hoped the blood test would mean she did not need to go on medication “that could make feel very ill”.
As part of the trial, she will have regular scans and skin checks for five years which she said also provided her with “reassurance” that any sign of cancer would be seen “up to 12 months earlier than a scan”.
She added: “So for me it’s hugely beneficial both mentally and physically.”
Ms Dickinson said her diagnosis had changed her outlook on life.
“It’s made me prioritise my time and not take my health for granted anymore.
“My time is precious, and I value what is most important to me more than ever.”
