Funding has been extended for colorectal cancer tests running under a trial study in Telford.
The trial, the first of its kind in the UK, is being run by Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) and medical technology company Origin Sciences at the Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) in Stafford Park.
Nearly 2,000 patients have taken part in the study since December 2024, and the trial now has a target of 6,600 by the end of June 2026.
The test, which is quick and pain free, uses a device called Oricol which collects rectal mucus samples, which are then tested for abnormal cells and significant polyps.
While it cannot definitively diagnose cancer, those who receive a positive result are pointed towards having a colonoscopy in hospital.
SaTH said if successful, eight out of 10 patients would know that they haven’t got cancer within five days of the test.
It said colorectal cancer affects 42,000 people a year in the UK and the trust sees about 350 colorectal cancer cases a year.
“This trial is already having a huge impact on our patients as they are being seen at their first outpatient appointment much quicker,” said Jenni Rowlands, deputy medical director at SaTH.
“It is hoped that the new test will mean that patients can find out more quickly whether they need to have a colonoscopy and we should also be able to diagnose colorectal cancer at a much earlier stage.”
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