Tag: cancer screening

Categories : CancerTags :

SA Has Relatively High Anal Cancer Rates, but We Rarely Screen for It

On By ModernMedia
People living with HIV are at an increased risk of developing anal cancer, particularly if they have compromised immune systems. Photo by Lorenzo Turroni on Unsplash

By Elna Schütz

South Africa has the world’s largest population of people living with HIV, which both heightens the risk of anal cancers and their severity. However, neither the collection of data nor the efforts for prevention and screening are in line with the likely impact. Experts say significant change is needed.

“Almost everyone has an anus,” Dr Daniel Surridge, a colorectal surgeon at Joburg Colorectal, says with a smile. He is one of a group of specialists trying to draw attention to arguably one of the most neglected areas in cancer.

“We’re quite a weird niche group who talk about bums all day, but most people are really in denial that they have an anus,” jokes Dr Tim Forgan, another colorectal surgeon, working in the private and public sector in Cape Town.

“It’s such an essential part of your daily life and you need your anus,” adds Dr Mark Faesen, specialist gynaecologist with the Clinical HIV Research Unit (CHRU), who runs an anal cancer screening clinic at Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg, as far as we know, the only one in the country.

The stigma surrounding this particular body part, unfortunately, does no one any favours when it comes to cancer awareness and treatment.

A tricky hidden cancer

Anal cancers occur in the last few centimetres towards the external opening of the rectum. They can be associated with rectal, colon, or genital issues.

Professor Michael Herbst, health specialist consultant for the Cancer Association of South Africa, explains that the vast majority of these cancers are anal squamous cell carcinomas, meaning they develop in the skin cells of the anal canal.

Most anal cancers are caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a virus that also causes most cases of cervical cancer.

“Patients and doctors often misdiagnose those early symptoms as haemorrhoids,” Herbst says, explaining that the disease is asymptomatic at first. Later, it may present with itching, discharge, bleeding or a palpable lump.

Ideally, a diagnosis is made of a pre-malignant lesion, which is a fairly flat, slightly dark growth. This can be found through a rectal exam or smear. A biopsy under anaesthesia may be needed to confirm the diagnosis.

Premalignant lesions can be treated topically if caught early. Otherwise, the skin may have to be surgically removed, which is often a difficult and risky surgery in this part of the body.

Once a lesion has progressed to cancer, treatment involves high doses of chemotherapy and radiation, which Surridge says is intense and only treats about half of patients effectively. “The rest go to a surgery where you have to remove the anus along with the rectum and put in a permanent colostomy bag,” he says.

In comparison to the rectal and colon cancers that Surridge sees in his work, he describes anal cancers as less predictable and more aggressive, with painful consequences. “It’s going to hurt like hell,” he says. “It stinks like you’re rotting from the inside, so no one wants to come near you.”

Anal cancers are also particularly resistant to chemotherapy, Surridge says, and run the risk of spreading through the lymph system, leading to a dismal outcome, possibly leading to death.

People living with HIV are at an increased risk of developing anal cancer, especially if they have compromised immune systems.

Faesen says that internationally, in the general population, the incidence of anal cancer is around 2 per 100 000 people per year. “If you’re HIV positive long enough, so over the age of 45, the risk is 20 to 40 per 100 000 per year,” he says. For men who have sex with men, the incidence can be as high as 60 or 130 per 100 000.

Those with HPV and patients with immune systems not working as well as they should, such as those who have received an organ transplant, are at risk. Furthermore, groups who engage in high-risk sexual activities, like men who have anal sex with multiple male partners, should be aware of the risk. However, sexual orientation and anal sex do not directly lead to an increase in anal cancer risk.

Rare but not that rare

Anal cancer may be considered a rare cancer, but the few local experts on it see it as a concerning cancer because of South Africa’s high number of people who are at increased risk.

“Anal cancer is strangely common in South Africa. It’s not extremely common, but it is reasonably common,” says Forgan.

The National Cancer Registry’s latest numbers, from 2023, has the cancer reported in around 300 women and 220 men, making up less than 0,7% of reported cancers. A recent analysis of the registry’s numbers found that the cancer’s incidence has significantly increased between 1994 and 2021. The paper found that younger black women and older white women were most likely to get the cancer. A study at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2023 found that three-quarters of their anal cancer cohort were female and 80% were HIV positive.

“We don’t actually know the true incidence in South Africa,” says Dr James Pattinson, Head of Colorectal Surgery at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, explaining that the disease is likely under-reported. Anecdotally, he says the cancer seems common in Gauteng. He says his unit alone sees around 100 new cases of anal cancer a year, making up around 30% of new reported colorectal cancers.

Surridge says it is getting more common, and “it is certainly raging through Gauteng”.

The challenges

The doctors agree that the reported numbers are likely lower than the real prevalence and that many cases could be avoided or caught early with intervention. A key factor is the lack of education and patient hesitancy to get tested. “The natural stigma and embarrassment associated with anal conditions cause patients to wait until the condition is severe before seeking medical help,” Pattinson says.

“The lack of awareness doesn’t stop at the door of the Department of Health,” Faesen says. He laments that few healthcare workers are well-informed about this cancer. This leads to misdiagnoses and problems being missed. This is aggravated by financial and resource constraints. But, he says, this is not a “blame game”, since the greater awareness of anal cancer is fairly new.

For instance, the International Anal Neoplasia Society’s consensus guidelines for anal cancer screening were only released in early 2024. Faesen explains that while cervical cancer screening was popularised internationally around the 1960s, it was only a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2022 that found that treating lesions substantially lowers the risk of anal cancer, that heightened the interest in screening.

In that study, of over 4 000 people, progression to anal cancer was more than 50% lower in people who received treatment for precancerous lesions than in people who did not. The study provided a compelling rationale for increased screening, since it is only through finding precancerous lesions in the first place that they can be treated and progression to cancer be prevented.

Reaching the level of common-place awareness for anal screening that there is around cervical pap smears is still a while away. “It took 50 to 60 years to get there, but we’ve just started,” Faesen says. “We are at the absolute beginning of anal cancer awareness.” He does however note that the incidence of anal cancer in some South African populations is already much higher than that of cervical cancer when routine screening for that was started.

What to do

The lack of screening for anal cancer is one clear issue that needs to be addressed. “Hopefully, we can demonstrate with more and more screening that there is a need for it,” Faesen says. He hopes that this will catch the problem before it progresses to a serious disease in more patients.

However, Pattinson notes that screening in other countries has been historically focused on high-risk populations such as men who have sex with men. “This is obviously not feasible in South Africa, as high-risk individuals are the millions of people living with HIV.”

Screening could potentially be focused on certain sites, like HIV-specific clinics or doctors who particularly work with HPV and cervical screening. Expanding screenings for high-risk groups to include anal would not be incredibly expensive but would add an extra burden on staff, Forgan says. “And it’s a very easy thing to screen for. You just have a look.”

There is also a preventative solution, the HPV vaccine. A two-strain form of this vaccine is already offered to girls aged 9 to 12 years old by the Department of Health. This does not cover other strains and is mostly focused on cervical cancer.

Surridge says that focusing on vaccinating only girls means boys aren’t protected, and creates a possible lag in protection against anal cancer. He says the vaccine, ideally one with more strains, if possible, should be given to as many people as possible.

“If you’re in a higher risk group, like those (who are) immuno-suppressed, with HIV, or solid organ transplant recipients, you should be vaccinated,” Forgan says. “Then you wouldn’t need a screening programme, per se, because you had prevented it from happening.”

Beyond this, increasing education around the disease and eventually instituting local guidelines would be crucial.

The National Department of Health did not respond to questions from Spotlight about their plans relating to anal cancer.

Republished from Spotlight under a Creative Commons licence.

Read the original article.

Categories : NeurologyTags :

Better Brain Health: UP Neurosurgeon Develops Non-invasive, Eye-based Method to Measure Intracranial Pressure

On By ModernMedia

Prof Llewellyn Padayachy is pioneering work in non-invasive techniques to assess and measure raised pressure inside the skull.

Paediatric neurosurgeon Professor Llewellyn Padayachy, Head of the Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Pretoria’s (UP) Steve Biko Academic Hospital, is redefining how brain-related diseases are diagnosed and treated, especially in low-resource settings. He’s at the forefront of pioneering work in non-invasive techniques to assess and measure raised pressure inside the skull, known as intracranial pressure (ICP).

As part of his PhD 15 years ago, Prof Padayachy set out to find safer methods for earlier diagnosis of brain tumours in children, a patient group that often presented far too late, with tumours already dangerously large. This trend of delayed diagnosis shifted his research focus to detecting raised ICP, pressure within the skull – a critical marker when diagnosing life-threatening neurological conditions. Traditionally, assessing this pressure involves invasive procedures and highly specialised equipment, resources that are often unavailable in rural or primary care settings.

“Ultimately, this non-invasive system offers a ‘thermometer for the brain’ – a simple yet powerful diagnostic tool that enables earlier treatment, better outcomes and more equitable healthcare access,” Prof Padayachy explains. “This research provides a lifesaving bridge between innovation and accessibility, especially on a continent where neurosurgery is severely under-resourced.”

At the heart of this innovation is the concept of the eye as a window to the brain. Initially using ultrasound imaging to measure the optic nerve sheath – along with technologies like optical coherence tomography (which uses light waves to take cross-sectional images of eye tissue), intraocular tonometry (to measure pressure inside the eye) and retinal scanning – his team has refined methods for non-invasively assessing ICP, without radiation or surgical intervention. This offers a faster, safer and more portable method for diagnosing neurological diseases.

Prof Padayachy’s initial work has since expanded to include adult patients, and now plays a crucial role in
identifying a range of central nervous system disorders, including brain tumours, hydrocephalus, infections and intracranial bleeding, conditions where early detection is essential for effective treatment.
This non-invasive approach has major benefits for both patients and health systems.

Early detection of conditions like brain tumours and hydrocephalus allows for intervention when symptoms are still mild and treatment is most effective. Detecting tumours earlier is the best modifier of outcome.

This eye-based technique is designed for point-of-care diagnosis. It is a simple, rapid method that can be employed in GP practices, rural clinics or by assistant nurse, with minimal training. By analysing high volumes of data using machine-learning algorithms, a “traffic light” system has been developed to streamline diagnosis: green for normal, orange for uncertain and red for urgent intervention.

The reduced risk and cost of this approach eliminates the dangers of invasive testing and reliance on expensive imaging tools like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans, which are often unavailable in rural areas.


It can support broader disease management by aiding in the diagnosis of not just tumours but various central nervous system disorders, including bleeds, infection, strokes and traumatic brain injuries. This technology is also being tested in countries like Norway and Germany, and is applicable to astronauts who experience raised intracranial pressure in microgravity.

A solution for Africa, with global impact

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than two billion people around the world lack access to safe surgical care, with low- and middle-income countries carrying the greatest burden. Africa faces immense challenges in neurosurgery, such as severe underfunding, a lack of training positions and a high burden of disease.

There is one neurosurgeon per four million people, far below the WHO’s recommendation of one per 200 000. This shortage, compounded by the lack of a central brain tumour registry and limited access to diagnostics, severely impacts patient outcomes. In South Africa alone, limited infrastructure and only a handful of neurosurgical training posts mean that even the brightest medical talent can be lost in the system.

“We have more than 70 applicants for a single registrar training post,” Prof Padayachy says. “This is completely inadequate. This research demonstrates how innovation born out of necessity can help us overcome these hurdles.”

This non-invasive technique isn’t just capable of transforming care in Africa; its application in diagnosing visual impairment due to raised intracranial pressure in astronauts, where a conventional tool like lumbar puncture is difficult to use, highlights its versatility. Ultrasound, which is portable and radiation-free, is the only imaging modality suitable for space. The same “thermometer for the brain” now being tested in orbit began in the clinics of South Africa.

“With the right support, we can create a self-sustaining model for research in Africa, by Africans,” Prof Padayachy says. “We certainly have the talent, and we can develop the tools to lead the world in non-invasive brain diagnostics.”

Categories : CancerTags :

Could a Liquid Biopsy Test Speed up Cancer Diagnoses?

On By ModernMedia

Study shows it would lead to increases in stages I–III diagnoses and a large decrease in stage IV diagnoses.

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Routine screening is limited to only a few cancer types. New research indicates that routine liquid biopsy testing (multi-cancer early detection testing) could substantially reduce late-stage cancer diagnoses, allowing patients to receive treatment at earlier cancer stages, which are more likely to respond to interventions. The findings are published by Wiley online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.

Currently, routine screening is only recommended for four types of cancer, leaving approximately 70% of new cancer cases to be detected only after symptoms appear, often at an advanced stage when survival rates are lower. Multi-cancer early detection tests offer a revolutionary approach by screening for multiple cancer types simultaneously from a single blood draw.

To evaluate the impact of one such test, Cancerguard, investigators used epidemiological data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database and developed a simulation model of 14 cancer types, which account for nearly 80% of cancer incidence and mortality. The researchers simulated 10-year disease progression for 5 million US adults aged 50–84 years and assessed the effects of incorporating an annual blood-based multi-cancer early detection test into standard care.

The model estimated that over 10 years, supplemental multi-cancer early detection testing would lead to a 10% increase in stage I diagnoses, a 20% increase in stage II diagnoses, a 30% increase in stage III diagnoses, and a 45% decrease in stage IV diagnoses, relative to standard care. The largest absolute reductions in stage IV diagnoses were in lung, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers. The largest relative reductions were in cervical, liver, and colorectal cancers.

“Our analysis shows that multi-cancer blood tests could be a game changer for cancer control,” said Jagpreet Chhatwal, PhD, the study’s lead author and Director of the Institute for Technology Assessment at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. “By detecting cancers earlier – before they spread – these tests could potentially improve survival and reduce the personal and economic burden of cancer.”

Source: Wiley

Categories : Cancer Lab Tests and ImagingTags :

Missing First Mammogram Raises Breast Cancer Death Risk

On By ModernMedia
Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Women who miss their first mammogram run a higher risk of being diagnosed with advanced breast cancer and dying from the disease. This is shown in a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in The BMJ.

Since the early 1990s, women in Sweden have been offered regular mammograms, which has contributed to a decrease in breast cancer mortality. Despite this, a significant proportion choose not to attend their first examination. The researchers behind the new study wanted to investigate the long-term consequences of this. 

The study is based on data from the Swedish mammography screening program and national health registries, and covers almost 433 000 women in Stockholm between 1991 and 2020, with follow-up for up to 25 years. 

The results show that 32% of all women who were invited to their first screening declined. These women were also less likely to participate in future examinations, which often led to a later diagnosis and poorer prognosis.

“Skipping the first mammogram is a strong indicator of who is at risk of late detection and higher mortality. Our results show that missing the first mammogram is not just a one-time choice, but often marks the beginning of a long-term pattern of not attending check-ups,” says the study’s first author, Ziyan Ma, a doctoral student at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet.

Were detected at a more advanced stage

When women who skipped their first screening were later diagnosed with breast cancer, the disease was more often detected at a more advanced stage. The risk of developing stage III cancer was approximately 1.5 times higher, and for stage IV, the risk was as much as 3.6 times higher compared to those who participated in the first mammogram. Over a 25-year follow-up period, almost 1 percent of those who did not participate had died of breast cancer, compared with 0.7 percent among the participants – a difference that corresponds to a 40 percent higher risk of dying from the disease. 

However, the total proportion of women who developed breast cancer was almost the same in both groups, approximately 7.7%. According to the researchers, this shows that the increased mortality is mainly due to delayed detection rather than more cases of the disease.

“Family history is a well-known, unchangeable risk factor for breast cancer. Our study shows that missing the very first screening examination carries a similar mortality risk – but unlike family history, this is a behaviour that we can change. Since over 30 percent of women skip their first screening, increased participation could save many lives. Since this group can be identified early, decades before deaths occur, healthcare providers have a chance to intervene with reminders or support to encourage participation, says the study’s last author, Kamila Czene, professor at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet

Source: Karolinska Institutet

Categories : Cancer Lab Tests and ImagingTags :

At-home Melanoma Testing with Skin Patch Test

On By ModernMedia

A microneedle patch captures cancer biomarkers in the top-most layer of skin to detect melanoma in animal tissue samples

The newly designed ExoPatch being removed from a sample of mouse skin successfully distinguished melanoma from healthy skin in mice. A gel coating the microneedles picks up cancer indicators from the top-most layer of the skin. Dissolving the gel releases exosomes into a solution, which is then used on a two-lined test strip, similar to an at-home COVID-19 test. Image credit: Jeremy Little, Michigan Engineering.

Melanoma testing could one day be done at home with a skin patch and test strip with two lines, similar to COVID-19 home tests, according to University of Michigan researchers. Developed with funding from the National Institutes of Health, the new silicone patch with star-shaped microneedles, called the ExoPatch, distinguished melanoma from healthy skin in mice.

The patch and test move toward rapid at-home melanoma testing, helping patients catch the most aggressive form of skin cancer early without a biopsy or blood draw.

“The star-shaped needles make puncture easier and less painful, but they are so small that they only go through the top-most layer of the skin, the epidermis, and do not draw blood,” said Sunitha Nagrath, the Dwight F. Benton Professor of Chemical Engineering at U-M and co-corresponding author of the study published in Biosensors and Bioelectronics.

The ExoPatch microneedles, at just 0.6mm long with a width of less than 100 nm (0.0001 mm) at the tip, are coated with a gel that picks up exosomes, tiny packages released by cells, from the interstitial fluid that fills the spaces between cells in the epidermis.

Once thought to be trash ejected from cells for cleanup, exosomes actually contain DNA and RNA fragments that cells use to communicate with each other. Cancer cell exosomes can help tumours spread by preparing tissues to accept tumour cells before arrival, and detecting them can catch cancer earlier than past methods.

The gel that coats the ExoPatch contains a protein called Annexin V that attracts and sticks exosomes to the microneedles’ surface. Once removed from the skin, placing the patch in an acid dissolves the gel, which releases the exosomes into a solution. After dipping a test strip into the solution, two lines form if the sample contains melanoma exosomes, and one line forms for a negative test – the same way an at-home COVID-19 test strip works.

“A fair-skinned person with moles must go to the doctor about every six months to send off a biopsy to see if they’re malignant or benign. With this test, they could instead test at home, get the results right away and follow up with a dermatologist for a positive result,” Nagrath said.

As a first step in the proof-of-concept study, the researchers tested the ExoPatch on a tissue sample of pig skin, which closely resembles human skin in thickness and composition. Using a microscope, they found the microneedles penetrated about 350 to 600nm into the skin. For scale, the epidermis on the human forearm is about 18 300nm thick.

To test whether the ExoPatch could capture melanoma exosomes from skin tissue, the research team tested tissue samples of mouse skin, half from healthy mice and half from mice injected with a fragment of a human melanoma tumour. After a 15-minute application, the ExoPatch was placed under a powerful microscope.

“When looking at microscopy images, I was happy to see how nicely the exosomes adhered to the microneedles and were within the 30 to 150 nanometre size range we expect,” said Scott Smith, U-M doctoral student of chemical engineering and co-lead author of the study.

After confirming the exosomes stuck to the ExoPatch, the researchers dissolved the gel and ran the sample through the test strips. The test successfully distinguished between melanoma and healthy tissues with a 3.5-fold darker line in melanoma samples.

The ExoPatch isolated 11.5 times more exosomal protein from melanoma tissue samples compared to healthy tissue, showing it can specifically target cancerous exosomes.

A pilot study in humans followed by a series of clinical trials will be the next steps to move the technology toward use. Beyond melanoma, the ExoPatch gel coating could be modified to detect exosomes released by other cancers with a solid tumour, including lung, breast, colon, prostate and brain cancer.

“This is the first patch designed to capture disease-specific exosomes from fluid under the skin. The potential applications are huge,” said Nagrath.

Source: University of Michigan

Categories : Cancer Lab Tests and ImagingTags :

Student Designs a Prostate Checking Device to Replace the Digital Exam

On By ModernMedia
Pro check, designed by Loughborough University student Devon Tyso.

A Loughborough University student has developed a new medical device that could transform how prostate health is assessed and monitored.

Devon Tyso, a Product Design and Technology student, has designed ‘PRO check’, an innovative tool designed to replace the traditional digital rectal examination (DRE), which involves a doctor manually assessing the prostate with a finger.

According to Devon, the current approach is heavily reliant on a clinician’s subjective judgement and experience, and many see the method as ‘intrusive’.

“As one in seven men will get prostate cancer, it’s vital to detect abnormalities early and track changes over time,” said Devon, “The current examination method involves a lot of guesswork.

“PRO check provides objective, measurable data and allows prostate health to be visualised – enabling more accurate diagnosis, and improved long-term monitoring.

“Having a device conduct the exam may also feel less invasive, which may encourage more men to get checked, potentially catching issues earlier.”

How the device works

Designed for use by GPs during routine prostate assessments, PRO check allows doctors to evaluate the size and texture of the prostate — two key indicators of potential health issues — in a more objective and consistent way than the traditional digital rectal examination.

The device is a handheld probe, and it is covered with a condom before being inserted into the body. Once in position, the condom inflates to different pressures, pressing against the surface of the prostate, causing it to compress. A laser grid is projected onto the inner surface of the condom so the shape of the underlying prostate can be captured.

Stereoscopic cameras capture images of the laser grid, tracking where the gridlines intersect and how these intersections shift as pressure changes. This information is then fed into mathematical equations to create 3D images — or ‘topographical representations’ — that reveal the prostate’s shape and surface structure under different pressures.

Studying the prostate’s surface details could help clinicians identify areas requiring further investigation. Healthy prostate tissue is typically soft and compressible, so regions that appear stiff or resist pressure could indicate potential abnormalities and warrant further investigation.

The device can also produce data on prostate volume – one of the measurements used to calculate prostate-specific antigen (PSA) density, which helps assess prostate cancer risk. Devon says currently volume estimates are often based on a clinician’s best judgement.

In addition, data from PRO check can be used to generate a compressibility-versus-pressure graph – a novel data type not currently available in clinical practice. This graph shows how the prostate compresses at different pressure levels, which Devon hopes could offer new insights into prostate health and complement existing diagnostic tools.

PRO check is designed to integrate with artificial intelligence, enabling automatic extraction of video data, real-time calculations, and the generation of 3D images for live display on a laptop or tablet during the examination.

The idea is that all examination data from PRO check would be stored on the patient’s records, helping to build a personalised prostate health profile that can be tracked and monitored over time.

Inspiration

Devon’s inspiration for PRO check came from a mix of personal experience – after his grandfather’s prostate cancer diagnosis – and unexpected technical research.

“It really hit home how common prostate issues are after my family member was found to have an enlarged prostate,” said the 22-year-old from Cardiff, “I realised nearly everyone I spoke to about it knew someone affected by it.

“When I started looking into prostate examinations, I kept thinking ‘how can a doctor remember what your prostate felt like four months ago?’ and how horrible it must be just be told whether you’re fine or not without seeing any data or anything visual.”

While researching non-invasive ways to assess tissue structure inside the body, Devon came across a technique used by NASA to map the surface of asteroids — projecting laser grids onto them, capturing images with satellite-mounted cameras, and analysing the gridline intersections to reveal the contours of the surface.

“I saw that NASA were mapping surface heights on a massive scale, and I thought – if they can do that in space, why can’t we use similar principles to examine something here on Earth?” said Devon, “I’ve basically used the exact same technique and scaled it down for PRO check.”

Prototypes

Devon designed PRO check as part of his final year project – which was exhibited at the School of Design and Creative Arts’ 2025 Degree Show – and has prototyped several of its key components.

He has built and tested two working prototypes. The first demonstrates how a laser grid and camera can be setup to map the surface of the prostate.

Devon designed a custom rig that enabled him to capture images of a laser grid projected onto different silicone prostate models — representing a healthy gland, a small tumour, a large tumour, and an enlarged prostate — from an optimal angle using a smartphone camera.

First prototype of pro checkPRO check prototype one demonstrated how laser gridlines and a camera can be used to image the surface of the prostate.

The second prototype features electronics that inflate a small balloon at controlled pressures, regulated by a pressure-sensing chip. Devon consulted three healthcare professionals to measure the pressure typically applied during prostate exams and replicated those levels in his design.

Devon tested the prototype using the silicone prostate models but encased them in a sponge disc to simulate surrounding tissue.

Devon manually extracted data on the gridline intersections from the camera footage and applied mathematical equations to generate 3D images of the prostate surfaces and surrounding tissue under different pressures.

Next steps

Devon hopes to collaborate with medical professionals and product developers to turn PRO check into a fully realised medical device.

When speaking about his ultimate goal, Devon said: “I’d love to see this used in GP surgeries across the UK one day.

“With early detection being so critical, anything that helps men get checked sooner and more comfortably – and provides reliable data and visualisations – has huge potential. I really believe this could make a difference.”

Further information on PRO check can be found on the Degree Show website.

Source: Loughborough University

Categories : CancerTags :

Celebrate Christmas in July with PinkDrive

On By ModernMedia

Cold Nights, Warm Hearts, Festive Vibes – and Support for Early Detection

Think log fires, festive cheer, a three-course dinner and dancing to a live band – all wrapped up in the joy of giving. On Saturday, 5th July 2025, PinkDrive will host a Christmas in July dinner at the Indaba Hotel in Johannesburg, a night of holiday cheer and hope in action: raising funds for a life-changing cause. And you’re invited.

PinkDrive is a non-profit (NPC) committed to prolonging lives through the early detection of gender-related cancers. It delivers essential health services to thousands of South Africans every year by bringing mobile mammography units directly to communities that need them most, from rural villages to peri-urban areas across the nine provinces. These trucks provide clinical breast exams, mammograms, pap smears, and PSA testing, helping to detect cancer early in areas where healthcare access is often limited or unavailable.

Like many non-profits, PinkDrive depends on the support of corporate partners, sponsors, government, and the public to sustain its vital work, among them, Lee-Chem Laboratories. “This is a cause that is close to our hearts,” says Bhavna Sanker, Marketing Manager at Lee-Chem Laboratories. “Each year, we proudly support PinkDrive through our Mandy’s brand sponsorship, focusing on spreading awareness, sharing survivor stories, and making sure people understand their healthcare options.”

As part of their continued support, every guest at the Christmas in July function will receive a goodie bag from Lee-Chem, filled with products from their Mandy’s brand. “We are truly honoured to have Lee-Chem and the Mandy’s brand as valued sponsors of our Christmas in July Dinner fundraiser,” comments Nelius du Preez, Operations Manager at PinkDrive NPC. “Their continued support, alongside our other generous sponsors, makes events like this possible and helps us not only raise vital funds but also amplify the message of early detection and health education across South Africa.”

The fundraiser will spotlight the resilience of breast cancer survivors, with Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy, Samantha Graham-Maré, sharing her personal journey with cancer. PinkDrive CEO and Founder, Noelene Kotschan, a passionate advocate for early detection prolonging  lives, will also address guests, and your charming host for the evening? A dashing Mister Global SA finalist will take the mic as MC, steering the evening from heartfelt reflections to lively fundraising with raffles and auctions featuring holiday packages, original artworks, and other exclusive prizes.

“We call the event ‘a night of giving back’ because it is occasions like these that allow us to keep our mobile health units on the road, reaching men and women who might otherwise not have access to screening services,” says du Preez. “Together with compassionate partners like Lee-Chem, we are driving change and prolonging lives, one screening at a time. And we are grateful to every corporate and individual who supports the event by purchasing tickets,” he adds.

All proceeds from the evening will be ringfenced to build and operate a new mobile mammography unit, expanding PinkDrive’s reach to screen more South Africans and detect cancer early, when treatment is most effective. “We encourage the public to join us in this mission by purchasing tickets and supporting the evening’s fundraising efforts,” concludes Sanker.

Tickets for the Christmas in July dinner are R600 per person and available now at pinkdrive.org. Don’t miss this chance to dress up, give back, and help bring hope where it’s needed most.

Categories : CancerTags :

Men’s Health Warning: Prostate Cancer Usually Has no Early Symptoms

On By ModernMedia

More precise treatment options with robotic technology

Friday, 20 June 2025: Prostate cancer is a major risk to men’s health, with South African men facing a one in eight chance of developing this most common of male cancers.

Urologists Dr Hannes Brummer and Dr Johan Coetzee, who practise at Netcare Greenacres Hospital, are encouraging men to prioritise prostate cancer screening this Men’s Health Month. 

“Usually, men do not feel any symptoms until prostate cancer has progressed significantly, which is why they need to be proactive about booking their routine prostate cancer screenings,” explains Dr Coetzee. 

“With the advanced prostate specific antigen [PSA] screening blood test available from GPs these days, there is so much more opportunity for prostate cancer to be detected earlier when it is still at a highly treatable stage.”

“For men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer following a needle biopsy, the treatment options available have improved to such an extent that there is more hope than ever before. Even where surgery is needed, prostate cancer does not necessarily pose a significant disruption to your life,” Dr Brummer adds. 

“A prostate cancer diagnosis can be daunting. We have walked this path with so many men, and robotic assisted surgery offers some important advantages for the removal of cancerous tissue in the prostate gland, in particular the precision of this minimally invasive option.”

Over 1 000 robotic assisted procedures have been performed at Netcare Greenacres Hospital since the introduction of this technology in August 2017. 

At Netcare Greenacres Hospital, Dr Brummer and Dr Coetzee use the da Vinci X robotic assisted surgical system to operate through tiny punctures in the skin using slender instruments more dexterous than the human hand.

Dr Brummer and Dr Coetzee emphasise that the surgeon remains in control of the robotic system at all times. With magnified 3D imaging capabilities, including a large fixed-focus area at the highest resolution, the nerves, blood vessels and tumour are visible with great clarity for the intricate procedure. 

“This robotic system is especially useful for operating on the prostate, as we can more clearly distinguish the nerves controlling erectile function and urinary continence. In most cases, there is less need for blood transfusion and reduced risk of complications,” Dr Brummer explains. 

“Another of the advantages of this robotic technology for prostate tumours is that there is much less tissue damage in this sensitive area. Compared with traditional surgery, this means men usually experience much less downtime with less discomfort after the procedure. This translates into shorter hospital stays and faster recovery with robotic assisted prostatectomies overall.”

General manager of Netcare Greenacres Hospital, Reon van Rensburg, joined the urologists in reinforcing the importance of prostate cancer awareness. “Let’s talk to our brothers, fathers, sons and grandsons about health issues, and get to know your family risk for both prostate cancer and breast cancer.”

Van Rensburg thanked Dr Brummer and Dr Coetzee for their continued dedication to making the world-class minimally-invasive robotic assisted surgical option available for patients local to Gqeberha and from as far afield as Knysna, George and East London, inland regions of the Eastern Cape, and parts of the southern Free State, the Northern Cape and the north-eastern region of the Western Cape.

“This Men’s Health Month, let’s pledge to be decisive about booking those routine health checks. Making the time now and every year could help to save your life in future,” Dr Brummer and Dr Coetzee concluded. 

Categories : Cancer HospitalsTags :

Closure of US-funded Cancer Clinic Further Burdens Public Hospitals

On By ModernMedia
The Cervical Cancer Screening and Prevention Clinic at Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg was forced to shut down in mid-May after losing all its funding from the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Photos: Elna Schütz

By Elna Schütz

Hundreds of cervical cancer patients will likely be referred to overburdened hospitals following the closure of the Cervical Cancer Screening and Prevention Clinic at Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg.

Following over 20 years of operations, the clinic was forced to shut down in mid-May after losing all its funding from the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). It relied on some financial reserves to taper its activities over several months. Most clinic staff have been let go.

The clinic served women who were referred from across Johannesburg and as far as Springs. A significant part of that group lives with HIV.

“Many of these women are from underserved communities with limited access to specialist care,” says Dr Mark Faesen, Specialist Gynaecologist with the Clinical HIV Research Unit (CHRU).

The clinic offered critical cervical cancer screening and follow-up services, including Pap smears and colposcopies – a cervical examination for abnormalities. The clinic was managing around 1,400 patients annually. “It served as a clinical and research hub, preventing many cancers,” Faesen says.

We spoke to Zinhle (name changed) who was screened at the clinic after feeling ill for a year and who sought help at four different hospitals.

“When I got [to this clinic], I was received with a warm welcome,” she says, emphasising that every step of the process was explained to her and she was made to feel comfortable. “Where else are we supposed to go?”

Zinhle says she is deeply upset that she can no longer be treated at the clinic if she needs it again.

Faesen says the clinic’s closure will put immense pressure on other public hospitals offering these services, like Rahima Moosa or Chris Hani Baragwanath. This is likely to lead to longer waiting times for screening, diagnosis and treatments. “Early detection is important,” Faesen says. “Without timely diagnosis, outcomes are far poorer.”

Lorraine Govender, the National Manager of Health Programmes at the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) says they are deeply concerned by the closure, as it is a serious setback in the ongoing fight against the disease.

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women in South Africa, and results in the most deaths. It is curable if diagnosed and treated early. A Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination also reduces the risk of cervical cancer. While low screening rates and backlogs in treatment have been long-standing across the country, Johannesburg appears to be particularly burdened. The shutdown of this clinic adds to a larger shortage of screening and treatment in Gauteng.

The Department of Health has previously stated that while it has improved vaccination efforts against cervical cancer, “screening and treatment are lagging behind”. The national health policy calls for women aged 30 to 50 to be screened at least three times in their lives. Women living with HIV should be screened at least every three years.

Cervical cancer screening services are limited and overwhelmed at most public hospitals, Faesen says. “The funding cuts have a knock-on effect: increasing patient loads at the few remaining colposcopy clinics.”

Lorraine Govender, the National Manager of Health Programmes at the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) says they are deeply concerned by the closure, as it is a serious setback in the ongoing fight against the disease.

“Cervical cancer is both preventable and treatable when detected early, making continued access to screening services vital … The closure of this Johannesburg clinic must be a call to action,” Govender says.

Faesen stresses the urgent need for increased funding for decentralised screening services to fill the gaps created by clinics like the one at Helen Joseph Hospital. “Equipping more public sector sites with colposcopy capability and training personnel is also essential.”

Republished from GroundUp under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Read the original article.

Categories : CancerTags :

Three out of Ten Breast Cancers are Detected Between Screenings

On By ModernMedia
Photo by National Cancer Institute

In a new study, researchers from Karolinska Institutet have shown that so-called interval cancers, which are detected between two screening sessions, account for a significant proportion of breast cancer cases and that certain risk factors may increase the likelihood of developing this type of cancer. The study was published in the journal JAMA Oncology.

Mammography screening has been shown to be effective in reducing breast cancer mortality by detecting cancer at an early stage. Despite this, some cancers are not diagnosed during screening but between screening rounds, known as interval cancers. This type of cancer can be more aggressive and difficult to treat than breast cancer detected during a scheduled screening.

The study, which covers half a million women in Stockholm between 1989 and 2020, shows that interval cancer accounts for a significant proportion of all breast cancer cases.

“We found that interval cancers account for about 30 per cent of all breast cancers detected by screening and this percentage has remained constant over three decades, despite advances in screening technology,” says Yuqi Zhang, postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet and lead author of the study.

The researchers identified several factors that increase the risk of developing interval cancer. These factors include high breast density, hormone therapy, higher education level and older age at first childbirth.

“Women with high breast density and use of hormone therapy are at increased risk of being missed at screening due to false negative results,” says Yuqi Zhang.

Rapid growth of tumour

In addition, the study showed that women with a family history of breast cancer, especially interval cancer, are at a higher risk of developing interval cancer themselves. Women with a family history of breast cancer were 1.9 times more likely to develop interval cancer, and this risk increased to 2.9 times if they had a family history of interval cancer specifically.

“This is often due to the rapid growth of tumours between screening rounds rather than missed detections. The study therefore emphasises the need for more frequent or improved screening methods specifically designed for women with these particular risk factors,” says Yuqi Zhang. 

“Adapting screening protocols to reflect individual risk profiles – whether through more frequent mammography, supplemental imaging like contrast-enhanced mammography, or incorporating genetic testing – could significantly improve early detection rates,” says last author Professor Kamila Czene at the same department. 

“By identifying cancers earlier, we can offer more effective and less invasive treatments, improve long-term survival outcomes, and reduce the emotional and physical toll on patients.”

Source: Karolinska Institutet