A breath test to diagnose pancreatic cancer is being hailed as a major breakthrough for the disease which claims thousands of lives a year.
Scientists are developing a simple test that could detect the cancer in earlier stages. Pancreatic cancer is often caught late as it can be difficult to diagnose, with symptoms often being mistaken for other less serious health conditions.
According to Cancer Research UK, just 5% survive the cancer for more than five years after they are diagnosed. But experts say thousands of lives could be saved thanks to the simple breath test which could be carried out in a doctor's surgery.
The breath test, developed by researchers at Imperial College London, detects molecules created by tumours. The study, published in the British Journal of Surgery, saw 64 patients tested, picking up 84% of those with pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic Cancer UK, a dedicated charity that offers specialist support and investment in research, is helping to fund the project. The charity says the test would be a world-first for the disease.
Dr Chris MacDonald, head of research at Pancreatic Cancer UK, said: “Finding an early detection test would make the single biggest difference to pancreatic cancer survival in 50 years. We know that the vast majority of patients will present with early symptoms two years before they are diagnosed, so there’s a huge window of opportunity there, if we can give GPs the new tools they need.
“If the brilliant team at Imperial are successful, we can take luck out of the equation for people with pancreatic cancer. In future, simply blowing into a bag at the GP surgery could quickly open the way for an urgent scan, and for those that need it, the chance of potentially curative treatment. I really do believe that through this project and others, we are on the cusp of a breakthrough that could save thousands of lives.”
The charity says it is investing more than £650,000 to support the project, building on successful previous research, in particular work from the Early Diagnosis Research Alliance led by Professor Stephen Pereira at University College London.
Their findings showed for the first time that biological markers of pancreatic cancer found in the blood can be effectively combined to develop highly sensitive tests for this disease.
Pancreatic cancer symptoms
According to Pancreatic Cancer UK, both men and women are affected by the disease in the same way. It doesn't cause symptoms in the early stages, and the signs can often be hard to spot, leading to the cancer being difficult to diagnose.
According to the NHS, symptoms of pancreatic cancer can include:
- jaundice - the whites of your eyes or your skin turn yellow
- you may also have itchy skin, darker pee and paler poo than usual
- loss of appetite or losing weight without trying to
- feeling tired or having no energy
- a high temperature, or feeling hot or shivery
Other symptoms can affect your digestion, such as:
- feeling or being sick
- indigestion
- diarrhoea or constipation, or other changes in your poo
- pain at the top part of your tummy and your back, which may feel worse when you're eating or lying down and better when you lean forward
- feeling tired, fatigue
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