Study aims to reduce bowel cancer diagnosis wait

A £1m research study based in Shropshire hopes to reduce the waiting time for bowel cancer diagnosis.

The year-long study will take place at the Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) in Telford, using about 6,000 symptomatic patients from the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH).

It will trial a new test, which uses a device that collects rectal mucus samples, which are then tested in a laboratory for abnormal cells.

The test aims to drastically reduce the number of people who require an invasive colonoscopy, which lasts about 45 minutes and requires full bowel preparation and a separate visit to hospital.

Eight out of 10 patients would know if they do not have cancer within five days following the test, if the technology was successful, SaTH said.

It added the study would also ease pressures on staff working above capacity, as well as cut costs for the trust.

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