Brain tumour breakthrough as NHS launches ‘world-first’ rapid test to diagnose in hours

A RAPID brain tumour test will be trialled on the NHS to diagnose patients within days or even just hours instead of weeks. NHS England said we will be the first in the world to try out the technology. It uses a computer to scan all of the DNA in a patient’s brain biopsy sample to identify their exact type of tumour and immediately diagnose or rule out cancer. In some cases it can be turned around in less than two hours while brain surgery is going on. Clinics typically have to send the sample off to a lab to be examined under a microscope by a human in a process that can take weeks. There are more than 100 types of brain tumour meaning they can be difficult to treat. Read more on cancer Professor Frankie Swords, medical director at NHS England, said: “For people with suspected brain tumours, getting the right diagnosis quickly can feel like a race against time. “Waiting weeks for answers can be agonising for them and their families. “This remarkable rapid test has the potential to completely transform how we diagnose brain tumours. “A faster diagnosis means patients can start the right treatment or access clinical trials sooner. Most read in Health “For some patients it could mean surgeons can make potentially life-changing decisions about their surgery while on the operating table.” Nearly 13,000 Brits are diagnosed with cancerous brain tumours every year and about 80 per cent die within ten years. Cancer Research UK says only about three per cent of cases can be prevented. Health Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “This is an incredible breakthrough in the technology available to tackle brain tumours. “It is also a tribute to the UK’s world-leading life sciences sector that NHS patients are routinely among the first in the world to benefit from these kinds of innovations.” Dr Karen Noble, of the charity Brain Tumour Research, added: “Genomic testing has the power to transform diagnosis, treatment and research for brain tumours, but current turnaround times are in many cases too long. “This rapid testing pilot is a hugely promising development.” The most common symptoms of a brain tumour More than 12,000 Brits are diagnosed with a primary brain tumour every year — of which around half are cancerous — with 5,300 losing their lives. The disease is the most deadly cancer in children and adults aged under 40, according to the Brain Tumour Charity. Brain tumours reduce life expectancies by an average of 27 years, with just 12 per cent of adults surviving five years after diagnosis. There are two main types, with non-cancerous benign tumours growing more slowly and being less likely to return after treatment. Cancerous malignant brain tumours can either start in the brain or spread there from elsewhere in the body and are more likely to return. Brain tumours can cause headaches, seizures, nausea, vomiting and memory problems, according to the NHS. They can also lead to changes in personality weakness or paralysis on one side of the problem and problems with speech or vision. The nine most common symptoms are: - Headaches - Seizures - Feeling sick - Being sick - Memory problems - Change in personality - Weakness or paralysis on one side of the body - Vision problems - Speech problems If you are suffering any of these symptoms, particularly a headache that feels different from the ones you normally get, you should visit your GP. Source: NHS