WA cancer patients to access trials without needing interstate travel

WA cancer patients with rare and advanced cancers will be able to access trials under the Australian Genomic Cancer Medicine Program, without having to travel interstate.

The patients will be able to use genetic screening, and where possible, be matched to a nationally available drug trial that specifically targets their cancer.

The clinical trials will take place at the Linear Clinical Research near Sr Charles Gairdner Hospital.

Three WA patients have been travelling to New South Wales to access the program over the last few years.

One of the patients is 66-year-old John Gilmour who was diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma in his left foot in 2016.

His leg was amputated but the cancer spread to his lungs and doctors told him there was nothing they could do for him.

The grandfather travelled to New South Wales where researchers were exploring personalised cancer treatment.

The once a month treatment had immediate effect - by January one tumour had gone and the other had halved in size.

The immunotherapy program will enhance the immune system to unmask and target the cancer cells compared to chemotherapy which reduces the quality of the system.

Cancer patients can enrol in the new trials from today after the State Government contributed funding to the program.

WA is the first state outside of New South Wales to offer the program.

Doctors hope to treat 15 cancer patients in the first year of the trial.