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Pat Grant’s reaction to her cancer diagnosis was overshadowed by a heartbreaking thought: she feared she would never meet her first grandchild. At 78 years old, Pat from Cardiff had always embraced an active lifestyle, participating in aqua aerobics and dance classes following her retirement as a social worker. However, when she was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer, her health rapidly declined, and she started to lose weight and strength.
Pat’s participation in a Welsh clinical trial involving an innovative blood test for cancer brought renewed hope. This advanced test indicated that her specific type of lung cancer might respond positively to targeted medication. With cautious optimism, she took part in the trial, saying, “What have I got to lose?” Though it wasn’t a guaranteed cure, Pat felt improvements gradually taking hold and experienced a strengthening from head to toe. This progress allowed her not only to meet her granddaughter but also to celebrate the child’s first birthday. She fondly calls herself “Noisy Nanna” due to the lively songs she sings to her granddaughter, who dances with a joyful spirit.
The new blood test, known as QuicDNA, is being introduced across NHS Wales as a standard diagnostic tool for patients with late-stage lung cancer. Unlike conventional biopsies, which require invasive surgery to retrieve tumour tissue, this “liquid biopsy” detects tiny fragments of cancer DNA shed into the bloodstream. State-of-the-art DNA sequencers then analyze these samples to uncover the genetic makeup of the cancer, guiding doctors toward the most effective treatments and allowing them to monitor how well the therapy is working or if the tumour has developed resistance.
The impact of this technology is also illustrated by the experience of Craig Maxwell. Just before turning 40, Craig was diagnosed with a lung tumour, but doctors were unable to obtain a tissue sample for analysis initially. Reflecting on that difficult period, he described it as the “darkest and hardest times” for him and his loved ones. Learning about the QuicDNA project gave him new hope, and with fundraising efforts that raised £1.7 million, he helped support the research that has transformed his own life. Craig was able to resume activities he cherishes, such as climbing Mount Toubkal, walking the Welsh coastal path, and actively engaging with his children’s pursuits. He emphasizes how “precision medicine” provided by the trial has been a “game-changer” for patients like him, although he humbly notes he is just “a very small part of an amazing team.”
Dr Magda Meissner, the chief investigator of the QuicDNA study, highlights the speed at which the blood test can deliver genetic information—within about two weeks—enabling prompt treatment decisions for patients whose condition can deteriorate rapidly. She explains that early diagnosis and targeted therapy can significantly extend survival, potentially turning what might have been a matter of weeks into years of life. Nonetheless, despite these encouraging advances, challenges remain in Wales and the wider UK, where delays in diagnostic waiting times persist and cancer survival rates lag behind other developed nations.
Lowri Griffiths from Tenovus Cancer Care and Chair of the Wales Cancer Alliance describes the introduction of this blood test as “incredibly positive news” and “the future” of cancer diagnosis. Still, she stresses the urgent need for systemic investment and reform to improve overall cancer care, acknowledging that Wales faces a substantial task to catch up with leading international standards
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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