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Blood sampling machines would 'make huge difference'

Nickee Susan A young boy with no hair and a tube going into his nose, hugging his mum. They are both smiling.Nickee Susan
Victor underwent two years of treatment for leukaemia

Doctors and families have said blood sampling machines would "make a huge difference" for children going through cancer treatment.

Emily’s Gift, an appeal supporting children with cancer in Gloucestershire, is aiming to raise £40,000 to buy two of the machines, which can process blood samples and give results within 45 seconds instead of several hours.

"It's genuinely mind-blowing" how fast is works, said Nickee Susan, whose son Victor underwent two years of treatment for Leukaemia.

She said it would help to ease anxiety for families who often spend hours "loitering in hospital" for results.

"On a really practical level, it's essential," added Ms Susan.

Nickee Susan A small child in a multi-coloured, tie-dye top, with a tube going into his nose and stickers on his clothes showing it is his birthday. He is peering over his mum's shoulders and they are both smiling.Nickee Susan
Victor's treatment ended in July and he is "doing brilliantly", said his mum

She told BBC Radio Gloucestershire Victor was diagnosed in June 2022.

"You hit this incredibly complicated world very quickly. I had no idea that leukaemia treatment was going to go on for two years."

She explained that during treatment, "you have absolutely no idea what each day is going to bring for you".

"So much of cancer treatment is dictated around the blood results, which can take hours to come back.

"When you've got a young child... you're desperately trying to explain what the day might look like.

"Having a machine that is able to do it in 45 seconds, it's genuinely mind-blowing."

Emily's Gift Headshot of Dr Chrissie Parfitt who is wearing a black top, maroon lanyard and glasses. She has blonde hair.Emily's Gift
Dr Chrissie Parfitt said the machines would make "a huge difference" to families

She said when her son used the machine she could not believe the results had come back so quickly and thought the nurses must have confused them with someone else's.

"I was saying, 'oh no, no, you've only taken his blood three minutes ago'.

"Straight away I knew what we were doing for the rest of the day. I was able to explain to Victor how things were going to pan out."

Ms Susan said it would help parents to "organise your life slightly better and slightly more whilst you're on treatment", including day-to-day activities such as picking up other children from school.

Consultant paediatrician specialising in Paediatric Oncology at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Dr Chrissie Parfitt, said: "For us to be able to make those clinical decisions quickly will aid things hugely.

"Part of our drive is to get families back out in the community... rather than spending the time in hospital unnecessarily."

She said the machines would make "a huge difference" to families.

It is hoped the funds will be raised at the Emily's Gift Coronation Ball on 1 February.

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