A New Blood Test for Cancer
一種新型癌症血液檢測
Introduction
Doctors at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre are doing a big study. They want to see if a blood test can find cancer after a patient finishes treatment.
瑪格麗特公主癌症中心的醫生正在進行一項大型研究。他們想看看病人完成治療後，是否能透過血液檢測發現癌症。
Main Body
The study is called SHERLOCK. It uses a blood test to find tiny pieces of cancer DNA. These pieces are too small for X-ray machines to see. 7,000 patients are in the study.
這項研究被稱為 SHERLOCK。它利用血液檢測來尋找極其微小的癌症 DNA 片段。這些片段小到 X 光機無法偵測。目前共有 7,000 名患者參與這項研究。
Doctors want to know if this test helps patients. If the test finds cancer, the patient may need new medicine. If the test is clean, the patient can stop strong medicines that make them feel sick.
醫生想知道這項檢測是否對患者有幫助。如果檢測發現癌症，患者可能需要使用新藥。如果檢測結果為陰性，患者就可以停止使用那些會讓他們感到不適的強效藥物。
Other doctors think this study is very good because it looks at many types of cancer. However, the study takes a long time. Doctors must watch the patients for five years to be sure the test works.
其他醫生認為這項研究非常出色，因為它涵蓋了許多種類的癌症。然而，這項研究需要很長時間。醫生必須觀察患者五年，才能確定該檢測是否有效。
Conclusion
The SHERLOCK study is still learning. In the future, this blood test may become a normal part of cancer care.
SHERLOCK 研究目前仍處於學習階段。未來，這種血液檢測可能會成為癌症治療中的常規部分。
Vocabulary Learning
🔍 The 'If' Pattern
In this text, we see how to talk about results using the word If.
The Pattern:
If [Action/Event] → [Result]
Examples from the text:
- If the test finds cancer → the patient may need new medicine.
- If the test is clean → the patient can stop strong medicines.
Why this helps you reach A2: You can now explain a simple cause and effect.
Try this simple switch:
- If it rains → I stay home.
- If I am tired → I go to sleep.
🕒 Time Words
Look at how the text talks about the clock:
- Still (happening now): "The study is still learning."
- Future (happening later): "In the future..."
- For [Time] (duration): "...for five years."