Western Daily Press (Saturday)
West patients first to swallow tiny cameras for cancer scans
PATIENTS at a West hospital will be the first in Britain to swallow tablet-sized miniature cameras in a revolutionary new test for bowel cancer.
The innovation is being trialled at Great Western Hospital in Swindon and is designed to replace standard colonoscopies.
Known as a colon capsule endoscopy, it forms part of an NHS drive to help patients access non-invasive cancer checks at home.
The imaging technology, in a capsule no bigger than a pill, can provide a diagnosis within hours with minimal inconvenience.
Consultant colorectal surgeon, Anwar Owais, who is leading the project in Swindon, said: “We are really excited to be one of four NHS trusts in the South West to pilot this new technology.
“I think this will be a great step forward towards improving the experience for patients needing a colonic investigation.
“I am very proud and honoured to be part of this project in Swindon.
“Colon capsule endoscopy provides high-quality images of the whole gastrointestinal tract, from mouth to anus, which allows us to perform a more holistic assessment on the patient. It also offers a more patient-friendly alternative to existing investigations.
“Importantly, the capsule cameras will help to speed up the checks and avoid delays in cancer diagnosis. It will also help us identify which patients can be discharged and which patients need further investigations.”
The normal method of diagnosing bowel cancer is a traditional colonoscopy, where a patient is invited to hospital for an outpatient procedure before having a tube inserted into the large intestine, which can be an invasive procedure.
The new technology means that after swallowing the capsule, people can continue to go about their normal day-to-day activities.
An initial group of 11,000 NHS patients will take part in the trial.
The camera is designed to make its way through a patient’s digestive system naturally, recording images of the entire gastrointestinal tract and sending them to a device that the patient wears on their waist, a reader and sensor belt.
The device also tracks the camera’s progress through the body and will advise patients on how they can change their diet to slow it down or speed it up.
People who are experiencing any symptoms of cancer are urged to seek help early on by speaking to their GP about their concerns.
I am very proud and honoured to be part of this project in Swindon CONSULTANT COLORECTAL SURGEON ANWAR OWAIS