Key Summary
- Dozens of pharmacies in England will next year offer new ‘heartburn health checks’ to test for Barrett’s oesophagus, which can be a precursor to oesophageal cancer
- If pre-cancerous cells are found, treatment can be offered to remove them through endoscopy or a procedure known as radiofrequency ablation
- The key lies in early detection, but in the UK of almost 10,000 patients diagnosed with oesophageal cancer, 80 percent are detected at a late stage
- The project is one of seven innovative pilots backed by a £15 million investment aimed at improving the early detection of cancer
NHS England, for the first time, will offer ‘sponge on a string’ test in pharmacies for people suffering from acid reflux to help prevent oesophageal cancer.
Dozens of pharmacies in England will offer new ‘heartburn health checks’ to test for Barrett’s oesophagus, which can be a precursor to oesophageal cancer.
The test involves patients swallowing a small pill on a thread, which expands into a penny-sized sponge when it reaches the stomach.
After a few minutes, it is safely pulled out to collect cells from the lining of the oesophagus, which are tested for Barrett’s oesophagus.
This test is currently done in hospitals and Community Diagnostic Centres, and the NHS pilot aims to free up appointments for those at high risk of cancer.
As part of the NHS pilot, early next year, around 1,500 people in London and the East Midlands will be offered the quick and easy test on-site in a pharmacy or be referred to a community-based clinic in their area.
This will be accompanied by a locally led public health awareness campaign on the potential signs and symptoms of oesophageal cancer to encourage more people to come forward.
For this project, NHS has partnered with Boots and gastrointestinal diagnostics company Cyted Health, and will be working closely with Heartburn Cancer UK.
The pilot will run for two years and the outcomes of an independent evaluation will inform decisions about any future roll-out.
The project is one of seven innovative pilots backed by a £15 million investment aimed to improve the early detection of cancer, as part of the NHS Cancer Programme’s Innovation Open Call.
Gastro-oesophageal reflux, also known as acid reflux, is a relatively common condition, affecting around two in every ten people.
Persistent symptoms can be a sign of the pre-cancerous Barrett’s oesophagus, and this simple test can help spot whether heartburn is a sign of a more serious problem.
If pre-cancerous cells are found, treatment can be offered to remove them through endoscopy or a procedure known as radiofrequency ablation.
The key lies in early detection, but in the UK of almost 10,000 patients diagnosed with oesophageal cancer, 80 percent are detected at a late stage, where only 20 percent survive the year.
Cancer of the oesophagus is more common among older people, and men are more likely to have the cancer compared with women.
Smoking, drinking alcohol and obesity are all factors that increase the risk of the disease.
NHS national cancer director Professor Peter Johnson said: “This new pilot brings a convenient test to where people shop, making it easier than ever for patients to check signs and symptoms that might be worrying them."
Minister for public health and prevention Ashley Dalton said, “With more than 8,000 people diagnosed with late-stage oesophageal cancer each year, being able to spot the warning signs using a 10-minute test in a local pharmacy - before cancer has even taken hold - will be a game-changer."
Heartburn Cancer UK founder and chairman Mimi McCord said, “Oesophageal cancer can be a brutal disease. It hides in plain sight and when it takes hold, it doesn’t hang around before it kills. Catching it early – or when it’s a pre-cancerous condition – is the best chance people have of survival."
