Breath test shows potential for detecting cancer

Conclusion This study aimed to see whether a breath test could be used to detect stomach and oesophageal cancers. The researchers found that the breath test was fairly accurate in distinguishing between those with and without cancer. The lead researcher, Dr Markar, said: "Because cancer cells are different to healthy ones, they produce a different mixture of chemicals. This study suggests that we may be able detect these differences and use a breath test to indicate which patients are likely to have cancer of the oesophagus and stomach, and which do not." However he went on to say that the findings of this study would need to be validated in a larger sample of patients before being put into practice. These are early findings presented at a conference. While they show promise, it is not possible to say from the available information whether the test could have a future role in practice. In most of the patients involved in the research the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes. It is unclear if the breath test would be able to detect cancers at an earlier stage. As the researchers suggest, this test is likely to be most useful as a possible indicator for when endoscopy, a more invasive test, is needed in people who present with gastrointestinal symptoms. A breath test sensitive enough to identify a "chemical signature" of cancer could be an ideal way to diagnose more patients at an earlier stage of the disease. However, at only around 80% accurate, the test i...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Cancer Source Type: news