Pill on a string could detect cancer risk in people with heartburn

People with chronic heartburn are being offered a test that can help to detect their risk of developing cancer.

The pill on a string trial uses a capsule attached to a thread, which is swallowed and gathers cells on a sponge as it's pulled back out of the food pipe.

The procedure is "less invasive" than an endoscopy and it's considered an effective way of identifying people who are at risk of developing oesophogel cancer early, according to Dr James Calvert, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Wales.

There are about 22 deaths a day from the disease, which is the seventh most common cause of cancer deaths in the UK.

The Best4 trial will recruit 120,000 people who regularly take medication for heartburn, such as Iola Protheroe from Taff's Well, Rhondda Cynon Taf.

She's struggled with heartburn which she said has got "worse and worse" over the past year and a half.

She said: "It's not the worst thing that can happen to somebody but it is horribly uncomfortable. It can stop you from eating properly.

"It's very uncomfortable when you try to lie down and it can stop you from sleeping and it is an uncomfortable thing."

After visiting her GP, she agreed to participate in a trial after receiving a text message from NHS Wales.

The procedure takes a sample of cells from the food pipe which are analysed for Barrett's oesophagus - a common condition caused by heartburn where cells start to grow abnormally.

After swallowing a gelatin capsule attached to a chord and drinking a few cups of water, it dissolves in the stomach and releases a small sponge which is carefully pulled back up through the gullet by a nurse.

"It's not the most pleasant thing I've ever had to do," said Iola.

"The swallowing of the tablet was okay but then it opens in you stomach into a little brush and that's got to come out.

"And that was uncomfortable but only for a couple of seconds.

Consultant gastroenterologist Dr Hasan Haboubi said: "If people are having long-standing heartburn symptoms and are either going to their chemist for regular Rennies or buying omeprazole over the counter, or going to their GP regularly, then that's when it's worth thinking about if there are any obvious lifestyle changes that need to be made.

"If we do need to identify those patients who need a little bit more observation then that's the whole purpose of this kind of study.

"A capsule sponge test is a able to detect any pre-cancerous changes at an early stage."

Mobile screening vans in the community are being used for the research trials in Wales, which is open to men aged 55–79 and women aged 65–79 who take regular medication for chronic heartburn.

The findings from this research will help to inform a decision on whether this method can be part of cancer screening programmes across all four UK nations.

"The wider the participation you get in research trials, the more useful the data is because we really want to know the research applies to the whole population," said Habouni.