As reported in an article published on DailyMail.com, there is a new blood test that could reduce the amount of unnecessary chemotherapy that some men with prostate cancer face. According to the article, scientists at the Institute of Cancer Research reported that they have utilized a new test to analyze prostate cancer tumors in greater detail than previously available. This new blood test enables doctors to identify when prostate cancer cells are becoming resistant to chemotherapy.
Currently, chemotherapy for prostate cancer is, generally speaking, only stopped when cancer symptoms begin to worsen. This is an indication that the tumor has evolved and is beginning to spread. However, by that point men with advanced prostate cancer tumors might have already undergone months of chemotherapy. As it was ineffective at removing or reducing the tumor, that chemotherapy was ultimately unnecessary.
Given its simplicity, this new blood test could be given every few days. Doctors could then know very quickly if chemotherapy had ceased effectively treating the tumor. Doctors could switch those patients to different treatment regimens such as hormone drugs or immunotherapy.
The study detailing the finds of this new blood test only included a small number of patients, 14 men with advanced prostate cancer.
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Read the original article online: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6049477/new-blood-test-spare-men-prostate-cancer-months-gruelling-chemotherapy.html
