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The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Cancer could be diagnosed from the sound of your VOICE ‘within years'
Anyone with a hoarse voice is already told to visit the GP LISTEN UP Cancer could be diagnosed from the sound of your VOICE 'within years' THE early signs of cancer could be detected by listening to a patient's voice, scientists say. Using AI, subtle changes in the acoustics of a person's voice helped pick up lesions in people diagnosed with voice box cancer. 2 The sound of your voice could indicate whether you have signs of cancer Credit: Getty Researchers believe AI could be trained to hear these changes within a "couple of years'. There are around 2,000 new cases of voice box (laryngeal) cancer in the UK each year. A hoarse voice for more than three weeks can be a key symptom, and should be investigated by a GP. Using AI for diagnosis could spell the end of uncomfortable tests currently used, such as a biopsy or nasendoscopy, in which a thin tube with a video camera is passed through the nose down the back of the throat. Read more on cancer HIGH FIVE The 5 simple tweaks you can make TODAY to slash your risk of 5 killer diseases The American team, part of the 'Bridge2AI-Voice' project, gathered voice recordings of 300 patients, some of whom had voice box cancer. They studied at least six features of voice acoustics: the mean fundamental frequency (pitch); jitter, variation in pitch within speech; shimmer, variation of the amplitude; and the harmonic-to-noise ratio. There were "marked" differences between men with and without cancer or a voice box disorder, such as nodules or polyps, specifically the harmonic-to-noise ratio, according to the findings published in the journal Frontiers in Digital Health. It's possible the same will be found for women with a larger dataset. One of the study's authors, Dr Phillip Jenkins, of Oregon Health & Science University, said: "To move from this study to an AI tool that recognises vocal fold lesions, we would train models using an even larger dataset of voice recordings, labelled by professionals. "We then need to test the system to make sure it works equally well for women and men. BBC Gardeners world fans in tears as star reveals terminal cancer diagnosis during show "Voice-based health tools are already being piloted. "I estimate that with larger datasets and clinical validation, similar tools to detect vocal fold lesions might enter pilot testing in the next couple of years." 2 Voice box cancer, or laryngeal cancer, causes voice hoarseness, pain swallowing, or difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath and weight loss Credit: Getty The symptoms of voice box cancer Cancer Research UK have said there are four key symptoms of laryngeal cancer to look out for: 1. Hoarseness or a change in your voice If you have a hoarse voice for more than 3 weeks, it could be a sign of laryngeal cancer, says Cancer Research UK. It's worth seeing a doctor for a full check up and diagnosis, as inflammation of the larynx can also be caused by a cold, a chest infection and overuse of the voice, like singing. 2. Pain or difficulty swallowing If you're experiencing pain or having difficulty swallowing, it might be an indicator something is wrong. Visit your GP if for three weeks or more, you feel: that there is something small stuck in your throat you are struggling to swallow food some pain or a burning sensation when swallowing food that your food is sticking in your throat 3. Shortness of breath Experiencing shortness of breath is a symptom that should trigger an urgent response. Call 999 if you suddenly experience shortness of breath or are struggling to breathe. Some people may also find they have a cough that doesn't go away, they find it difficult to breath or when they inhale it's become noisy (stridor). 4. Weight loss Sudden or dramatic weight loss is a key sign of cancer, including laryngeal. Usually it will happen alongside other symptoms and the body's way of communicating that there is a problem. It may also happen because you're eating less due to pain or because you're having difficulty swallowing. You should see your doctor if you have lost 4 to 5 kg (10lbs) or more in a short time.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
New movement and Declaration Launched to Bridge the Digital Health Divide
Geneva: The global movement ' Digital Health Sans Borders ' and the accompanying 'Geneva Declaration of Responsibility in Digital Health' were officially launched at Campus Biotech in Geneva, as part of a side event of the World Health Assembly (WHA). The event brought together global health leaders , policymakers, and representatives from major international organizations. The movement aims to address global disparities in access to digital health technologies and promote cross-border collaboration. A recorded message from WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the urgency of digital solutions to support Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals . The Geneva Declaration outlines principles for ethical, inclusive, and accountable deployment of digital health. It calls on governments, the private sector, and civil society to invest in open standards, interoperable infrastructure, and local capacity building. The movement will move into an implementation phase with upcoming programs,and the roll-out of programs in underserved regions, launch of the Digital Health Champions Fellowship and the formation of a Global Steering Committee. The event was hosted by Health Parliament and the Academy of Digital Health Sciences, in partnership with the Geneva Digital Health Hub and the WHO-hosted Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH).
