NHS pharmacies to pilot ‘sponge on a string' test to spot cancer precursor

The Guardian

09-07-2025

Hundreds of people in England are to be offered a 'sponge on a string' test to identify a precursor to one of the deadliest cancers in high-street pharmacies for the first time.
Patients with persistent heartburn or acid reflux can take the 'game-changer' tablet-sized capsule that when washed down with a glass of water expands in the stomach.
The device is then pulled out using an attached thread, allowing the cells it has gathered to be analysed to see whether someone has Barrett's oesophagus, which raises the risk of developing oesophageal cancer.
Oesophageal cancer is on the increase and is closely associated with risk factors such as poor diet, smoking, alcohol consumption and having a hiatus hernia.
Mimi McCord, the founder and chair of Heartburn Cancer UK, which is working with NHS England on the pilot scheme, said: 'Oesophageal cancer can be a brutal disease. It hides in plain sight and when it takes hold, it doesn't hang around before it kills.
'Catching it early, or when it's a pre-cancerous condition, is the best chance people have of survival. People who regularly self-medicate often fall below the radar of the GP system.
'Lives will be saved by more people being made aware of the signs and symptoms to look out for and having quick, simple and easily accessible tests in pharmacies.'
The pilot is intended to help prevent more cases of oesophageal cancer by finding people with Barrett's.
The condition occurs when stomach acid damages the lining of the oesophagus, or food pipe. Some cells may grow abnormally and develop into oesophageal cancer.
About 1,500 people in London and the East Midlands will be offered the new 'heartburn health checks' to test for Barrett's oesophagus.
The test is already used in hospitals and community diagnostic centres to help reduce the need for invasive endoscopies in Barrett's patients.
Pharmacists will work to spot patients who regularly use over-the-counter medicines to ease their heartburn but who have not sought help from their GP.
The NHS has worked with Boots and the diagnostics company Cyted Health for the pilot, alongside Heartburn Cancer UK. It will run for two years before potentially being rolled out more widely.
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The health service's cancer director, Prof Peter Johnson, said: 'The NHS is catching more cancers earlier than ever before, and this new pilot brings a convenient test to where people shop, making it easier than ever for patients to check signs and symptoms that might be worrying them.
'For the majority of people with persistent reflux, these quick and easy heartburn health checks will provide peace of mind that you aren't at increased risk of cancer, and for those who do find out they have Barrett's oesophagus, regular follow-up checks will be put in place so any further cell changes can be spotted early.'
If pre-cancerous cells are found, treatment can be offered to remove the cells through endoscopy or a procedure known as radiofrequency ablation.
Of almost 10,000 patients diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in the UK each year, 80% are diagnosed at a late stage. Only one in five people survive, meaning early diagnosis is crucial.
The public health minister, Ashley Dalton, said: 'Last week, as part of our 10-year health plan, we promised a neighbourhood health service – convenient care nearer to where people live. Today's announcement is a fantastic example of the life-saving potential of healthcare on your high street.
'Being able to spot the warning signs using a 10-minute test in a local pharmacy, before cancer has even taken hold, will be a game-changer.'