‘Sponge-on-a-string’ cancer test introduced in pharmacies
ENGLAND, JUL 9 – The pilot targets 1,500 people with frequent heartburn to detect Barrett's oesophagus early, improving survival by enabling treatment before oesophageal cancer develops.
- NHS England announced that about 1,500 patients will be offered a sponge on a string test in high-street pharmacies in a two-year pilot starting early next year.
- Oesophageal cancer is often diagnosed late, with nearly 10,000 UK cases annually; 80% are late-stage, and only 20% survive beyond a year.
- Patients swallow a capsule on a string that expands into a sponge to collect oesophageal cells for analysis, enabling early cancer detection.
- During the pilot, pharmacists will identify unscreened patients, reducing invasive endoscopies and freeing hospital resources for higher-risk cases.
- Should the two-year NHS England pilot prove successful, it may expand to other regions beyond London and the East Midlands within the next two years, potentially transforming early cancer detection nationwide.
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New ‘sponge’ cancer test to be trialled in high-street pharmacies
NHS England is piloting a new way of preventing oesophageal cancer
·London, United Kingdom
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Leaning Left4Leaning Right3Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution36% Left, 36% Center
Bias Distribution
- 36% of the sources lean Left, 36% of the sources are Center
36% Center
L 36%
C 36%
R 27%
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