EAST Lancashire’s patients’ champion has spoken of how he has benefited from DNA gene sequencing to diagnose him with a rare muscular disorder.

Russ McLean, chairman of the Pennine Lancashire Patient Voices Group, has been diagnosed with Hypokalaemic periodic analysis, a condition which can cause paralysis to his whole body.

Mr McLean said he has suffered with the condition for 20 years but said he has never been diagnosed because the technology and facilities weren’t available in East Lancashire to diagnose him.

But after undergoing DNA gene sequencing, which from a small sample of blood or saliva can correctly identify not just illnesses but also specific genetic mutations at University College Hospital London, he was diagnosed with the disorder last week.

He said: “I received a letter only last week from the University College Hospital London diagnosing me with the condition.

“Every hour of every day I will experience some form of muscle weakness but a couple of times a week I will become completely paralysed in my arms, legs and tongue.

“I’ve known something was wrong for 20 years but the technology and facilities haven’t been available in East Lancashire to diagnose me.

“So it was only when I had DNA gene sequencing, which is a simple blood test at the hospital in London a few months ago and received the letter last week, that I knew about it.”

It comes after chief medical officer Professor Dame Sally Davies called for every patient with cancer in Britain to undergo DNA gene sequencing.

Under plans unveiled by Dame Sally, a new era of genome-based personalised medicine could open up for cancer patients and those with rare diseases within five years.

Mr McLean said he welcomed Dame Sally’s ‘Generation Genome’ report as a ‘step forward.’

He said: “From personal experience, I would welcome Dame Sally’s recommendations as a huge step forward in the treatment and diagnosis of cancer and other rare disorders.”

Although welcoming Dame Sally’s recommendations, Dr Neil Smith, cancer lead for Blackburn with Darwen and East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Groups, said any new and innovative services such as DNA gene sequencing may take a while to be introduced.

He said: “But residents can be reassured that we are working hard to prevent, and treat cancer.

“The proposals suggested by the chief medical officer are very exciting and have the potential to make a significant difference to people’s lives.

“In East Lancashire we have the ability to fast track patients for an assessment within two weeks. This is for those patients whose GP fears they may have cancer. The fast track referral can either rule out cancer and give people peace of mind, or catch it early and deal with it.

“We know that early diagnosis can improve the treatment outcomes for the majority of patients.”