New diagnostic tool????

[Charlie36]

"Physicists using a particle accelerator at Daresbury in Cheshire, believe they may have come up with a new diagnostic tool for a particularly aggressive form of throat cancer.

The BBC's science correspondent Tom Feilden finds out more."

Heard this today 8th on Radio 4 TODAY programme. Might help a lot of people in the future especially those with Barretts.

Charlie

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If you want to listen to it, here is a link news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/def... but I do not know how long it will be there for.

It is all about the process of finding cancer cells in patients who have Barrett's oesophagus. There have been various attempts to create colour markers and dyes to make this process easier over the years, and if this one works (it relies on identifying DNA and protein with infa red) it will be an excellent development.

The other thing we need to do is to get those with undiagnosed Barrett's oesophagus for an endoscopy in the first place. Especially, perhaps, those in their 40s and 50s who had persistent heartburn in their 20s and 30s which then appeared to cease of its own accord.

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Yes Alan that is the most important thing.I had persistant heartburn from 20 years old till I was 50 then it ceased! then diagnosed with OC when 53 !