Tattoo to spot cancer

A SMART tattoo that appears on the skin if somebody has cancer could help patients get diagnosed and treated sooner.

The hi-tech tattoo, which is still under development, involves genetically modifying skin cells in the arm where the tattoo will appear — looking like a large brown mole — only if it detects a rise in calcium in the blood and skin, which can be an indicator of cancer.

Swiss scientists hope the tattoo can eventually be given to anyone who wants to monitor their own health for signs of cancer.