Seven years ago, Kelly Harrop was working at a stables and running in half marathons and 10k races She started to have problems with the stomach. Her lungs were revealed as a result of the scans. There was a direct diagnosis after the initial one. I was diagnosed with lung Cancer. It was a big surprise. She told the Observer that she had never smoked.
The surgery to remove the tumours was performed by Kelly. The doctors decided to enroll her in a new research program because of the risk of the tumours reappearing. Funded by Cancer Research UK, the project was set up 10 years ago. 850 patients with early-stage lung cancer were studied and treated.
It was found that genetically unstable tumours have the worst clinical outcomes.
Around 70% of lung cancer patients are cured after treatment. The leader of the project, Prof Charles Swanton of London's Francis Crick Institute, said that the cases tend to be linked to tumors with the most chromosomal abnormality.
According to Swanton, only 10% of those who suffer such relapses will live past five years. Is there a way to identify patients at high risk of a repeat?
Patients could be seen before symptoms appeared. In the early stages of lung cancer, the disease burden is lower and actions taken will have a bigger impact.
The technique developed by the team can separate patients who will definitely return from those who will not. Kelly Harrop was one of the first patients to take part in the trials.
She said that after her surgery and treatment, the tests were stopped and she was given the all-clear.
The new technique, which is still completing its clinical trials, provides early warnings of a cancer's return while freeing recovering cancer patients who are not at risk of a tumours's return, such as Kelly from undergoing unnecessary additional treatments. It means we can target patients who are most receptive to treatment.
An important issue is raised by Kelly's case. She developed lung cancer despite never smoking. Smoking is a major factor in the disease, but never smokers account for 20% of cases. A key risk has been discovered by research funded by the company.
Air pollution is linked to lung cancer. It causes an inflammatory response in the lungs, triggering an influx of white cells which, in turn, releases signalling that causes the lung to heal. This response goes awry if cells have a particular abnormality. According to Swanton, the result is a tumours.
The views of cancer are changing because of air pollution.
The natural aging process causes a small number of cells to increase in frequencies. Air pollution can cause an inflammatory response for a cancer to start.
The second 10-year phase of Cancer Research UK's lung cancer research programme will be launched next year after a new discovery was made in the fight against the disease.
Lung cancer is a form of genetic chaos that has never been seen before.
We can beat any cancer if we beat it.
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