End of the endoscopy?
Swallowing a tiny camera inside pill transforms bowel cancer diagnosis
A PILL containing a tiny camera that can detect tumours is set to revolutionise the diagnosis and treatment of bowel cancer.
The cancer cam – known as a colon capsule endoscopy – is swallowed by patients and takes pictures of the lining of the bowel to look for any signs of disease as it passes through the digestive system.
The devices, which can give results within just five hours, are initially being sent to 11,000 NHS patients across the country for trial.
If successful, it is hoped the new form of diagnosis could spell the end of more invasive colonoscopies as well as X-rays.
Charities said that the camera capsules could be a potential game-changer for diagnosis.
Genevieve Edwards, chief executive at Bowel Cancer UK, said: ‘This has the potential to make a huge difference for people with bowel cancer symptoms and could help the NHS to prioritise those who urgently need further tests.’
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK – with 42,000 new cases diagnosed every year and responsible for over 16,500 deaths annually.
Diagnosis can be delayed because many people refuse to undergo the uncomfortable procedure which involves threading a thin tube with a camera into the bowel through the rectum.
By taking the pill, patients can continue about their daily lives without having to visit a hospital.
Roughly the size of a large vitamin pill, it is swallowed in the same way as a tablet and takes the same journey through the gut as food.
As it passes through, the device captures around 400,000 images to find any abnormalities – such as cancer or inflammatory bowel disease – which are sent to a device worn around the patient’s waist.
Doctors then download the images and issue a report potentially giving a far swifter diagnosis than if the patient underwent an X-ray or colonoscopy.
The patient then passes the single-use capsule which can be flushed away. Ahead of the test, patients are put on a ‘low residue diet’ and are given strong laxatives the day before to ensure the camera can take the clearest pictures possible.
Simon Stevens, head of the NHS, said: ‘What sounds like sci-fi is now becoming a reality. As we come out of “peak Covid” and the disruption of the pandemic, the NHS is now pushing ahead with genuine innovation to expand services for other conditions.’
The NHS has battled to maintain cancer services during the pandemic, with many patients put off getting symptoms checked and a substantial drop in referrals.
Dr Ed Seward, director of endoscopy at University College London Hospitals which is using the innovative diagnostic tool, said he hoped it could benefit patients reluctant to leave their homes.
He said: ‘Patients who may be shielding or cautious about going to a hospital can perform the procedure in the comfort of their own homes.’