Selfie may help spot cancer early

A ‘selfie’ could help spot pancreatic cancer in its earliest stages, thanks to a new app. Developed by researchers at the University of Washington, the app, called Biliscreen, analyses a smartphone photo of the white of the eye for signs of jaundice.

Jaundice, a symptom of pancreatic cancer, is caused by raised levels of bilirubin, a pigment in blood cells.

Currently, pancreatic cancer often escapes detection until it is too late, and the fiveyear survival rate is just 9 per cent.

the app, which is not yet available, is designed to be used at home by people with risk factors, or who have the disease and need frequent bilirubin monitoring, normally done in hospital.