In a significant Australian medical milestone, a leading doctor has become the first patient in the country to undergo a promising new blood test designed to detect pancreatic cancer at its earliest, most treatable stages.
A Deeply Personal Mission for a High-Risk Family
Professor Stephen Robson, a renowned obstetrician and former president of the Australian Medical Association, volunteered for the pioneering test driven by a powerful family history. Professor Robson comes from one of Australia's highest-risk families for pancreatic cancer, a disease that has claimed the lives of many of his relatives.
"I've seen many of my relatives lose their lives to this terrible disease. I want that to stop with us," Professor Robson stated. He recounted the tragic pattern in his family, where diagnoses came too late. "Every single one of my relatives had the disease detected when it had already spread. They had terrible deaths and only lived a few months after the diagnosis was made."
Why Early Detection is Critical for Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer maintains a devastating reputation as one of the deadliest major cancers. The chief executive of national charity Pankind, Michelle Stewart, emphasised the core problem: "Many people don't survive pancreatic cancer because the diagnosis is so late."
Unlike some other cancers, pancreatic cancer often presents no clear warning signs until it is advanced. Professor Robson explained the cruel reality: "One of the huge problems with pancreas cancer is that by the time you know you've got it, by the time you get symptoms, it's too late. It's usually spread and it's essentially incurable."
How the Avantect Test Works to Find Cancer Sooner
The new Avantect blood test aims to be a game-changer by identifying the disease before any symptoms appear, when treatment still has a high chance of success. The science, brought to Australia by BCAL Diagnostics, is elegantly simple in concept.
Dr Chris Baldwin from BCAL Diagnostics explained the process. "When cells die, their DNA flows into the bloodstream," he said. "By looking at that pattern, we can see where the DNA came from and whether it's behaving in an aberrant way." In essence, the test scans for traces of DNA shed by cancerous cells, similar to how a prenatal test detects a baby's DNA.
Early trial results are encouraging. "What we've seen so far is that even in stages where the cancer is causing no symptoms for patients, it can be detected," Dr Baldwin noted. The test can identify cancer in people who appear and feel perfectly healthy.
The Call for Government Investment and Access
For Professor Robson, this technology represents the fighting chance his family never had. His primary motivation is clear: "I'm particularly concerned that I'm around for my children and that my children don't have the risk that their relatives have had."
However, a significant barrier exists. The test currently carries a price tag of $1495 and is not covered by Medicare. Advocates warn that without government subsidy, those who need it most may be priced out.
Michelle Stewart of Pankind issued a direct call to action: "This is the type of technology that we need to be investing in, to invest in research and development so it doesn't just remain a standalone test, but it becomes embedded in the health system for all Australians to access."
