ONE DROP OF BLOOD AND THIRTY IMPORTANT TESTS

ONE DROP OF BLOOD AND THIRTY IMPORTANT TESTS

It’s another week and time for another Health and #Wellness Wednesday everyone!  And, today I want to discuss something that’s so important for millions of people who live every day with a chronic illness or disease — and for those of us who have survived cancer.

Now, I have survived three different cancers, including colon, skin and breast cancer. And as all we survivors know, a big part of our follow-up health care program includes regular blood testing. Some of us get tested once every three months — and some of us like myself get tested once every six months. We refer to it as doing our “blood work.”

The test we undergo is called the Complete Blood Count or CBC. This test provides important information about the different types of cells in the body, including the red blood cells, the white blood cells and the platelets. And, depending upon the number of these different cells in our blood, symptoms such as bruising, weakness or fatigue can be checked — and conditions such as infection or anemia can be diagnosed.

In addition to this, the CBC also can provide information about the thyroid, cholesterol levels, blood sugars, diabetes, kidney functioning, Vitamin D absorption, heart disease and sexually transmitted diseases. But, for cancer survivors the most important part of the CBC is its ability to detect signs of cancer through a process known as tumor marking. This can give survivors warning that a new secondary cancer may be developing or that a primary cancer is recurring. And this, of course, allows the survivor to seek immediate medical help and to catch and treat the cancer as early as possible.

But, having blood drawn for the CBC is not always an easy process. Indeed, it’s a rather clumsy and out-dated procedure that requires a phlebotomist or nurse to collect vials and vials of a patient’s blood.  And, for many individuals this can be stressful and painful.

For example, cancer survivors and oncology patients who have undergone chemotherapy may have a condition referred to as “vein collapse.” This means the major veins of the body run “flat” rather than round — and as such it’s extremely difficult to find the veins and to draw blood from them. I have this condition — and as a result, I only have two veins in my hand that can support a needle and withstand my bi-annual CBC blood draw. Similarly, elderly patients with fragile veins and children with tiny veins can find the typical blood draw a very unpleasant experience. What’s more, if the first attempt to find a vein fails, the patient may have to endure a second, third or fourth attempt in order to find a vein that will support the needle and the blood flow necessary to fill several vials of blood for testing.

Additionally, this type of traditional blood draw requires that the vials be sent to a lab for testing. When that occurs, it’s always possible for the vials to be mishandled or misplaced. And, it can take days or weeks before a patient learns the results of the test. And this, of course, is a huge disadvantage because any delay in trying to diagnosis a serious condition could put the patient at risk.

That’s why I’m so excited to share this with you today. A fabulous woman by the name of Elizabeth Holmes has perfected a new process of conducting this all-important blood work. With a background in electrical and chemical engineering, Ms. Holmes has spent the last decade developing a new system of testing blood, which she calls Theranos.  First, this method only requires a tiny sample of blood — about the size of a raindrop — that can be collected with a simple fingerstick. Second, it utilizes on-site analysis so that the samples do not have to be transported to a facility or exposed to several different pieces of equipment — both of which can facilitate the occurrence of errors. Third, this method helps patients avoid giving large amounts of blood for testing. And fourth, it produces results for up to thirty traditional blood tests in just a few hours!

So, here’s how it works. An experienced Theranos technician first wraps the patient’s hand in a warming device similar to a regular pocket warmer. This relaxes the tissues of the hand and increases the blood flow. Then with a fingerstick the tech will draw just a few drops of blood from a single tiny prick in the hand or finger. That’s it! Once the drop is drawn, it is wicked into a tube called a nanotainer — or a container that holds a very small amount of product. The sample is then analyzed at the Theranos lab and made available to the patient or the patient’s physician usually on the same day.

And, as if that weren’t enough, Ms. Holmes’ company hopes to provide this service at a much lower cost than the cost of typical blood testing. For example, a simple test of one’s cholesterol and HDL levels through traditional testing can run about thirty dollars — while the same test through Theranos will cost under three dollars.

While her technology is new, Ms. Holmes’ goal is to provide testing sites within five miles of every person’s home. Indeed, in 2013 Ms. Holmes reached an agreement with Walgreens Drug Stores to offer testing facilities in two locations in Arizona and California. She now has several Theranos Wellness Centers in Arizona, California and Pennsylvania and continues efforts to expand her presence throughout the United States.

I love stories like this. I love the creative intelligence exhibited by those who only strive to help others. And, I love the way this particular new technology will improve the lives of so many people — lives that revolve around the constant chore of diligent and dedicated medical testing.  I am included in this group — so on behalf of us all — may I extend many thanks to you, Elizabeth Holmes!

And thanks to you everyone for joining me today. I hope this article will make a difference in your life or in the life of someone you love! Until next time,

TAKE THE COURSE AND TAKE CHARGE!

Image courtesy of rinjith krishnan at FreeDigitalPhotos.net