East London doctors can test for cancer using a pill after two of the region’s hospitals were selected for a national trial.
The new technology will allow doctors to test for bowel cancer by having patients swallow a pill-sized camera, rather than using an invasive colonoscopy.
Patients can then go home as normal, while the camera sends images of their colon as it moves through their body.
The trust which runs King George Hospital and Queen’s Hospital is one of 42 across the UK, along with Homerton University Hospital, to be selected for the 20-month trial.
Faidon Laskaratos, specialist registrar at the trust, said: “We are lucky to be among the first hospitals in the UK to offer this service for patients in north-east London.
“It means people with suspected cancer can be seen and tested in a way that’s convenient for them.
“As well as helping us diagnose cancer sooner, we will be able to contribute to an important national research evaluation of colon capsule endoscopy using real-life data.”
The new test will be mainly used for low-risk patients, who are less likely to have significant signs of cancer.
In November, it was reported that four out of every ten cancer patients being seen by the two hospitals were waiting too long for treatment.
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