New £4 spit test ‘can help detect breast cancer in five seconds from a single drop of saliva’
A BRAND-NEW spit test has been revealed that can reportedly help to detect breast cancer in just five seconds.
The breakthrough study found that with just a single drop of saliva women could find out if they have the disease that continues to sweep the UK and the rest of the world.
Costing less than £4, the revolutionary portable saliva testing kit has been found to cleverly detect common cancer biomarkers like genes and proteins.
Researchers in Florida and Taiwan developed the palm-sized device that can be carried around with ease and fit in your shelves at home.
The kit uses sensors with similar components to a traditional glucose test that are used by diabetics to measure their blood sugar levels.
The clever team of scientists said the device is set to be a low-cost alternative to things like mammograms or ultrasounds that are currently used to detect breast cancer.
Many women already find using one of these devices as highly invasive and they often require having to wait on long appointment lists before they can be tested.
A mammogram can take up to three weeks to get back an answer and many ultrasound screenings take 30 minutes just to complete.
So the new spit testing device is a remarkable improvement on both the time it takes to complete a test and the long waits many face after they’ve been to see a doctor.
The testing time is under five seconds per sample, which makes it highly efficient
Hsiao-Hsuan Wan
Hsiao-Hsuan Wan, a study author and doctoral candidate at the University of Florida, said: “Imagine medical staff conducting breast cancer screening in communities or hospitals.
“Our device is an excellent choice because it is portable – about the size of your hand – and reusable.
“The testing time is under five seconds per sample, which makes it highly efficient.”
In the experiments already done with the new, flash device, the researchers put paper glucose test strips into an antibody solution that interacts with certain proteins.
HER2 and CA 15-3 both cause breast cancer cells to begin to develop and grow at super quick rates – making it harder to treat.
One in five breast cancer patients is HER2 positive, according to the American Cancer Society.
Experts also estimate that up to 80 per cent of people with breast cancer show elevated levels of CA 15-3.
The team used 17 saliva samples from breast cancer patients and four others from healthy volunteers to conduct the sensational research.
Samples were then split into three separate groups – people without cancer, people with cancer that hasn’t spread and those with cancer that has spread.
In the tests, one drop of saliva was placed on the test strip.
After saliva was put onto a test strip, electrical pulses were sent to points on the device which has been built with the open-source hardware Arduino.
The pulses then grab onto the antibodies and alter the charge of the electrode.
This then gets translated into a digital signal of cancer biomarkers on the clever new device.
The tests then showed who has breast cancer and who didn’t with results coming in after just five seconds, says the study.
The research group went on to say: “The simplicity of operation and the potential for widespread public use in the future, position this approach as a transformative tool in the early detection of breast cancer.
“This research not only provides a crucial advancement in diagnostic methodologies but also holds the promise of revolutionising public health practices.”
We’ve created a technique that has the potential to help people all around the world
Hsiao-Hsuan Wan
Dr Wan also said: “In many places, especially in developing countries, advanced technologies like MRI for breast cancer testing may not be readily available.
“Our technology is more cost-effective, with the test strip costing just a few cents and the reusable circuit board priced at $5 (£3.97).
“Ultimately, we’ve created a technique that has the potential to help people all around the world.”
Despite the success, the method could face several pushbacks from regulatory bodies.
Most new medical kits and gear can take several years to actually become available to patients as you need clearance from places like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Then over in the UK, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), also needs to clear it and make sure it can be covered by the NHS.
Breast cancer is still the most common form of cancer in the UK and the world.
Signs of breast cancer
ACCORDING to Breast Cancer Now, the signs of breast cancer include:
- A lump or swelling in the breast, upper chest or armpit
- A change to the skin, such as puckering or dimpling
- A change in the colour of the breast – the breast may look red or inflamed
- A nipple change, for example it has become pulled in (inverted)
- Rash or crusting around the nipple
- Unusual liquid (discharge) from either nipple
- Changes in size or shape of the breast
You should see a doctor if you notice any change to the breast.
Even though it probably isn’t cancer, catching it early will improve the odds of survival if it is.
Secondary breast cancer is when cancer cells spread from the breast to other parts of the body. At this point, it is no longer curable.
The signs of this are:
- Feeling sick most of the time
- Severe or ongoing headaches
- A dry cough or feeling of breathlessness
- Any lumps or swellings under the arm, breastbone or collarbone
- Discomfort or swelling under the ribs or across the upper abdomen
- Loss of balance of any weakness or numbness of the limbs
- Pain in the bones which may worsen at night
- Feeling more tired than usual
- Altered vision or speech
- Unexpected weight loss, loss of appetite