‘Artificial mole’ warns of cancer

TAMPA: Swiss scientists have developed an experimental skin implant that darkens like a mole when it detects subtle changes in the body that may be an early warning sign of cancer, a study said yesterday. The implant, or “biomedical tattoo”, as researchers call it, has been tested in lab animals, lasts about a year and recognizes the four most common types of cancer: Prostate, lung, colon and breast cancer. It works by reacting to the level of calcium in the blood, which rises when a tumor is developing. About 40 percent of cancers could theoretically be detected this way, researchers said. If the wearer notices the spot darken, they should see a doctor to clarify the reason for the change and determine if or what treatment is warranted. — AFP