Mum among those helping researchers spot the signs of skin cancer returning
A mum diagnosed with skin cancer after a chance encounter is helping Southampton researchers confirm if a pioneering blood test could spot signs of melanoma returning faster than regular scans.
The Southampton Clinical Trials Unit is running a Cancer Research UK-funded trial for patients in Hampshire and Dorset to discover if a simple blood test can tell doctors at a very early stage if the melanoma is back, even if a scan looks normal.
Among those taking part is Karen Dickinson, who was at a routine appointment for her arthritic knee when her osteopath pointed out an irregular looking mole on her lower back.
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The 57-year-old IT manager went to see her GP who referred her for tests which revealed that Karen had melanoma – the most serious form of skin cancer. It had spread to her lymph nodes.
Karen, who had surgery to remove the mole, said: "It was such a shock. I had noticed the mole and wondered if it was slightly darker. I had decided to keep an eye on it, but when my osteopath pointed it out and said I should get it checked sooner rather than later, I went straight to my GP.
"It all just happened so fast. They had removed it and diagnosed me with skin cancer all within a few weeks.
"I had no idea how serious melanoma was, and you do worry that you could die. Telling my husband Stephen and my two girls Chelsea and Alex was hard. Having cancer has changed my outlook on life.
"You do worry it might come back, but it absolutely doesn't define who I am. 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."
Karen is one of 50 people to sign up to the DETECTION-2 clinical trial which aims to prevent people having unnecessary treatment if their cancer is unlikely to return.
On the NHS, patients are currently offered a one-year preventative drug treatment aimed at reducing the risk of recurrence. But with this new blood test, it could be possible to identify patients most at risk so that further treatment is only given to those who really need it.
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