New trial in the West Midlands seeks to diagnose early-stage ovarian cancer

[OvacomeSupport]

Good morning everyone

This post is to let you know about the SONATA trial which is looking at whether taking two blood tests together (CA125 and HE4), and using a calculation called ROMA, would diagnose ovarian cancer earlier.

The researchers hope that the tests used in the SONATA trial will mean more people are diagnosed earlier.

Throughout Modality-run GP services in the Walsall, Sandwell or West Birmingham areas, the laboratory looking at blood samples will automatically run the tests being used in this trial and feed back the results to GPs. GPs will then decide whether someone should be referred for further tests. If further tests are carried out, this would be at a new one-stop clinic.

If anyone would like to learn more about this research, please visit the news section on the Ovacome website: ovacome.org.uk/news/new-tri... .

Best wishes

Annie - Ovacome Support

[Beatyourself]

What a great news that can help so many women to avoid going through many of us at ovacome community have to go. Would this be also able to screen for early detecting of recurrence ? Many thanks 🙏

[OvacomeSupport Partner My Ovacome Team in reply to Beatyourself]

Good morning Beatyourself

Thank you so much for your reply. At this stage, the research is investigating initial diagnosis only. Hopefully if encouraging results are found, this could open options for detecting recurrent disease.

Best wishes

Annie - Ovacome Support

[Frenchhouse3]

Hi there,

That’s great news! The one stop clinic sounds a much better idea too and will save valuable time and more importantly, lives!

Thanks for this info. Hopefully, this will extend to the rest of the country eventually!

Kindest regards

Denise

[Mcsquaggle]

This must surely be the beginning of early detection ! Hopefully !

One of the things that I’ve thought about is raising the awareness of GPS.

The female GP that I saw in our practice was so dismissive of my enormous distended stomach ( which I’d never had before !) that she sent me away telling me to avoid Iboprufen ! Despite having seen her about odd pain in the bowel and groin.previously . A simple blood test would have explained a lot .

How can we raise awareness amongst GPS but great news about SONATA !

[OvacomeSupport Partner My Ovacome Team in reply to Mcsquaggle]

Good morning Mcsquaggle

Thank you so much for your reply. Like you, we certainly hope this will be the beginning of earlier detection of ovarian cancer.

I was really sorry to hear about your experience of having symptoms dismissed. Ovacome is passionate about raising awareness of ovarian cancer amongst healthcare professionals and we run a clinical education programme that consists of two strands. The first is aimed at medical students to raise awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer. The second is aimed at clinicians working in gynae-oncology. All sessions are centered around patient experience and aim to amplify patient voices. If you would like to learn more about this, please visit this page on our website: ovacome.org.uk/patient-expe... .

Please don't hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any questions, would like to learn more, or if there's anything we can support you with.

Best wishes

Annie - Ovacome Support

[Ova104 in reply to Mcsquaggle]

I unfortunately had this too all my life was told IBS/ Anxiety/bad period pain/huge bloating/GERD...back pain took 44 years for someone to say this is endometriosis. Was told I was fine!

[Ova104]

is there any time frame?

[OvacomeSupport Partner My Ovacome Team in reply to Ova104]

Good morning Ova104

Thank you for your question. The trial started in July 2023 and will be running for approximately 18 months.

Please don't hesitate to let us know if you have any other queries or if there's anything we may be able to support with.

Best wishes

Annie - Ovacome Support

[Ova104 in reply to OvacomeSupport]

thank you so much Annie.

[Ova104 in reply to Ova104]

I would be lost without the people on this forum. So helpful and informative.

[OvacomeSupport Partner My Ovacome Team in reply to Ova104]

Hi there Ova104

Thank you for sharing this positive feedback. I'm so pleased to hear how helpful and informative you find the MyOvacome community. We are here to support you so please don't hesitate to contact us if there's anything further we may be able to assist with.

Best wishes

Annie - Ovacome Support