Desperate calls for sponge test rollout to tackle killer ‘hiding in plain sight’

Atest that involves a patient swallowing a pill on a string should be widely available on the NHS in order to prevent cancer deaths, a charity has said.

The capsule sponge test releases a sponge to collect cells from the oesophagus as it is retrieved.

Previously known as cytosponge, it can be used to detect abnormalities that form as part of a condition known as Barrett’s oesophagus, which makes a person more likely to develop oesophageal cancer.

Oesophageal cancer affects about 9,300 people a year, according to Cancer Research UK. It is usually diagnosed using an endoscopy, or a camera down the throat.

Symptoms can be mistaken for indigestion, such as persistent heartburn or difficulty swallowing, and often materialise in the later stages.

The disease has a five-year survival rate of less than 20%, but this rises to 55% if detected early at stage one.

Mimi McCord, founder and chairman of the charity Heartburn Cancer UK, said: “Cancer of the oesophagus is a killer that can hide in plain sight.

“People don’t always realise it, but not all heartburn is harmless. While they keep on treating the symptoms, the underlying cause might be killing them.”