This week, we welcomed some of our research participants to join us as part of a study results presentation. Led by Dr Esther Moss, the study focused on finding out whether a new type of blood test could help with detecting, diagnosing and treating womb cancer.
We were thrilled to have so many of our amazing volunteers in the room with us as Dr Moss explained the project’s findings. The results of the study demonstrated that a blood test could show the presence of womb cancer, and could even be used to predict how the cancer might respond to treatment, and whether it might reoccur in the future.
For some patients, the experience of a physical examination for womb cancer is extremely stressful. As Dr Moss and her team explained, the results of this study provide the first step in developing a blood test that could be used to detect all endometrial cancers, with test results in just a few days. This would potentially remove the need for patients to undergo invasive physical examinations, and also reduce anxiety by offering quicker test results.
At the event, the women who had volunteered to be part of the study had the opportunity to see how their contributions have helped to shape the future of womb cancer care. Alongside their loved ones, they were able to ask questions and discuss their own experiences.
One of the participants who attended the event was Anne, who was supported by her daughters, Catherine and Fiona, as well as by her husband, Arthur. Through her cancer treatment and her time within the study, Anne had been able to make connections with other women in similar positions, and these connections had turned into strong friendships. Anne’s decision to take part in the study impacted the whole family, with Catherine telling us that it “empowered her, gave her hope and lifted her spirits.”
Without our volunteers, our research teams couldn’t carry out their incredible work finding new ways to diagnose and treat medical conditions like womb cancer. Taking part in a research study doesn’t just change the lives of our participants. It changes the lives of those around them, and offers hope to those in the future, too.
If you’d like to get involved and stay keep up-to-date with the research opportunities taking place, you can sign-up to Leicester BRC’s Public Involvement Registry today. Click here to find out more.