‘Revolutionary test' that detects cancer up to a YEAR before it shows on scans to be rolled out on NHS in world first
Find out more about the cancer tests currently available in the UK below
MAJOR LEAP 'Revolutionary test' that detects cancer up to a YEAR before it shows on scans to be rolled out on NHS in world first
SUPER sensitive cancer blood tests will be rolled out to NHS patients in a world first.
People diagnosed with breast or lung cancers will be tested for circulating tumour DNA, known as ctDNA, to find fragments of disease in their blood.
1
It's hoped many will be spared from unnecessary tests, surgery or chemotherapy with the new test
Credit: Getty
Results will give doctors a quick read on their cancer type, speeding up access to specialised treatment with higher chances of success.
Clinics typically have to wait for the results of scans and surgical biopsies to be sure what they are seeing.
New 'liquid biopsies' could also one day be used to stop cancer spreading, predict the risk of it coming back and guide treatment changes.
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England's director for cancer, said: 'Liquid biopsies are leading us into a new era of personalised cancer care.
'We are now able to expand the use of this revolutionary test on the NHS to help tailor treatment for thousands of patients across the country.
'It has the potential to help us scan the body in a single blood test to see where and how cancer may be developing and target it with speed and precision to help save more lives.
'We hope to roll it out for patients with other forms of cancer in the near future.'
ctDNA tests will be offered to patients with advanced breast cancer that is not responding to treatment, and people with suspected non-small cell lung cancer.
Following successful pilots, England is the first country to begin a mass rollout and will test thousands of Brits every year.
It is hoped many will be spared from unnecessary tests, surgery or chemotherapy.
NHS rolls out bowel cancer screening to 50 and 52-year-olds after Dame Debs' campaigning
Dr Isaac Garcia-Murillas, from The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: 'The potential for patient benefit and cost savings to the NHS is incredible.
'The main point is it's non-invasive so there is no need for tumour biopsies, which can be painful.
'And often by the time you have tested a tumour by imaging it has already grown.
'If you pick it up earlier you can intervene earlier and smaller tumours might respond better to drugs.
'This test allows you to see cancer cells that are undetectable on others.'
The NHS blood testing could see lung cancer patients get the best treatment weeks earlier, compared to waiting for scans and biopsy results.
Women with hard-to-treat breast cancer will have tumour DNA analysed to work out the best targeted approach.
Research by Dr Garcia-Murillas last year found the blood tests can detect signs of cancer growing back up to a year before it shows on a scan.
Doctors hope the blood testing will become so accurate and simple that it can be used to monitor tumours in near real time.
Dr Julie Gralow, president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, said: 'This is a cool way of not having to stick needles into wherever the cancer is to test it, but just drawing blood.
'It's live monitoring at a level that is actually much more specific and early than waiting for it to show up on scans.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
37 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Four key signs of ‘dementia' in dogs affecting one in three pets
Four key signs of 'dementia' in dogs affecting one in three pets While there is no cure for this progressive condition, there are therapies available to help improve your pet's quality of life. Dogs can experience something called canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome, which is similar to dementia (Image: Getty ) Experts have shared four key signs of 'dementia' in dogs that is thought to affects around a third of pooches by the age of 11. These symptoms could mean your pet has canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome, a condition related to the ageing of a dog's brain. Also known as CCD or CDS, this condition is often compared to dementia or Alzheimer's in humans. It leads to changes in awareness, deficits in learning and memory, and decreased responsiveness to stimuli. According to experts at Pet MD, the symptoms of CCD often start mild and get progressively worse, similar to the effects of dementia. They said: 'Although the initial symptoms of the disorder are mild, they gradually worsen over time, beyond what can be expected with normal ageing. 'These pets experience 'cognitive decline', which is the slow decrease in the brain's ability to perform normal tasks. In fact, clinical signs of cognitive dysfunction syndrome are found in nearly one in three dogs over the age of 11, and by the age of 16, nearly all dogs display at least one sign.' While there is no cure for CCD, there are therapies available to ensure your pet has the best quality of life possible. Therefore, getting diagnosed sooner rather than later is important. Pet MD listed four of the 'most common' symptoms of dementia in dogs. These are: Disorientation/confusion Changes in behaviour Anxiety/restlessness/impaired memory Changes in sleep cycle Disorientation or confusion caused by CCD might translate as getting stuck going around objects, not recognising familiar people or pets, staring blankly at walls, and pacing. Whereas changes in behaviour can be spotted in extreme irritability, decreased desire to play, excessive licking, lack of self-grooming, or loss of appetite. Anxiety, restlessness and an impaired memory could lead to seeming disregard for previously learned training or house rules, your pet being slow to learn new tasks, an inability to follow familiar routes, and faecal and urinary soiling in the home. Signs of changes in sleep cycle can include night waking, night vocalisation, and night pacing. If you think your dog is displaying signs of CCD you should speak to your vet. Charity PDSA says: 'Contact your vet if you've noticed changes in your dog's behaviour because symptoms of cognitive dysfunction usually get worse with time.' The exact causes of CCD are not known, but it is thought many of the same changes that cause problems as people age are likely to also cause problems as our pets age. How to care for a dog with CCD 'Dogs with canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome require lifelong therapy and support,' Pet MD says. 'While there is no cure, there are several things that you can do at home to help your dog's cognitive functions.' Article continues below These include: Maintaining a healthy and stimulating environment including daily routine of exercise, play and mental stimulation Maintaining a strict routine Making your home more accessible and safer Night lights can help your senior dog navigate in the dark Potty pads near doors give your pup a place to go if they can't make it until you come home or wake up Orthopaedic foam beds (with washable covers) can make sleep more comfortable Your vet may also recommend medication and behavioural therapy, a special, balanced diet, supplements and anti-anxiety tablets.
Daily Record
44 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Vape ban fire fears as experts warn of 'ticking time bomb'
The ban on selling disposable vapes in the UK comes into force tomorrow, Sunday, June 1. A nationwide crackdown on disposable vapes comes into force tomorrow. From Sunday, June 1, it will be illegal to sell the single-use devices anywhere in the UK. The move is aimed at protecting the health of the nation, especially youngsters as the bright-coloured puffers with their sweet flavours have proved a hit with teens in recent years. NHS stats from 2024 showed that nearly a quarter of children in the age bracket of 11 to 15 had tried vaping, and almost one in 10 vaped frequently. The new law aims to deter young people and children from turning to the nicotine products, which have been found to have serious health consequences. The move is also aimed at protecting the environment, as almost five million vapes were littered or discarded every week last year, according to figures from Material Focus. Many vapes end up in landfill or the incinerator, where valuable materials are wasted instead of being recycled. Littered vapes can leak harmful chemicals into soil, rivers, and streams, and contain lithium which can cause fires. And the chance of fire has sparked a warning from experts who branded the devices "ticking time bombs" if they are not correctly recycled. Vapes contain lithium-ion batteries, and these can overheat and ignite when damaged or crushed. If vapes enter bin lorries or waste management facilities, they're at risk of catching fire. Data shows that vape-related fires are on the rise in the UK, with a massive surge of 348 per cent between 2020 and 2025. And this can be caused by people simply chucking vapes in their bins at home. Research from consumer safety charity Electrical Safety First found that this is the method that almost three in five vapers (58%) will use to dispose of their single-use puffers. But it is something that could see you fined up to £600 and potentially void your home insurance. Even more worryingly, the survey discovered that 71 per cent of Brits know that vapes can cause fires if chucked away improperly but most still plan on doing that anyway. In Slough earlier this month, a bin lorry caught fire due to a disposable vape and the crew were forced to dump five tonnes of rubbish in the middle of the road to stop the blaze engulfing the entire vehicle. Similar incidents have been reported in East Yorkshire and Manchester this year too. Giuseppe Capanna, product safety engineer at Electrical Safety First, said: "With the ban on disposable vapes fast approaching, we're urging people not to bin the battery. "These devices contain lithium-ion batteries that can explode or catch fire if damaged, creating a ticking time bomb that puts workers and communities at serious risk. "The safest option is to recycle them properly. You can recycle them through retail take back schemes or at a local recycling centre that has dedicated facilities.' Although it may seem easier just to dump your disposables in the nearest bin, there are many different options for getting rid of them more safely According to the team at Recycle Your Electricals, it can be as simple as taking your e-cigs back to the store where you bought them since all retailers that sell them must accept your old vapes, making it as easy to recycle them as it is to buy them Many local authorities collect electrical devices for recycling, either with your regular collection or by special arrangement. Contact your council to find out if that is possible where you live. You can also take vapes to your local tip, since most recycling centres have sections for electricals and batteries. If you are able to remove the battery, you can recycle it separately. If not, you can put the whole device in with the electrical recycling. Smaller recycling banks also often have a spot for electricals. This could be at your local supermarket or shop, in a car park, or even at a designated roadside stop. If you know of one such bank close to you, check out if they have electrical recycling facilities. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
NHS trust suggested trans staff wearing chest binders should have 'extra breaks to cope with tucking' away their genitals
An NHS trust reportedly suggested that its transgender colleagues should be given extra breaks if they wore chest binders or needed a break from tucking their genitals away. In an draft guidance report allegedly seen by The Telegraph, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust said its trans staff may need extra breaks in order to have time where they are not 'binding and tucking'. If the move had been accepted it would reportedly have been a first for the health service who currently offer no advice for trans people who use the methods to appear less masculine or feminine. Both practices are said to cause infections, inflammation and have been known to cause other painful health problems such as testicular torsion. And although the trust said the proposals would not be pursued, critics said the draft plans raised concerns about potential NHS policies. An extract from the proposed 15-page guidance titled, 'Supporting transgender and non-binary staff', reportedly read: 'Please note that transgender staff who wear chest binders (an item of clothing that compresses the chest and creates a more masculine chest contour), or who tuck (a way of obscuring genitals in order to create a smoother, more feminine appearance) may require extra scheduled breaks in their shift in order to have breaks from binding and tucking. 'Binding in particular can constrict breathing. If possible, provide a private space they are able to access in order to do so. It is helpful to have a conversation with the individual to understand if there are ways of presenting they wish to engage in that may require them to have extra breaks.' The newspaper says that some of the trust's LGBTQ+ staff put the document together last year. A former employee at the trust said if made no sense to prioritise the needs of 'one group of staff over everyone else'. They added that other colleagues who suffer from heavy periods or may have to pray multiple times per day were not receiving such allowances. Helen Joyce, the director of advocacy at human rights charity Sex Matters, told the newspaper that the proposals 'should never have made it onto paper, even as a draft'. She said: 'Tucking genitals and binding breasts are culturally motivated actions that cause permanent physical damage, just like breast ironing and the use of neck coils. The only difference is that self-harm in the name of trans identity is high status and fashionable.' Ms Joyce added that the plans would have been 'disgraceful coming from a healthcare body' and that she was glad they had not been approved. A spokesman for the trust said that the proposals had been submitted by a colleague to a manager in February but that it 'was not accepted'. They told the newspaper that the draft 'is not trust policy or guidance' and that 'it never has been and never will be'.
