Breathalyzer Detects Lung Cancer – Israeli scientists devised a special breathalyzer that detects lung cancer by using gold nanoparticles that latch onto specific volatile organic compounds.

Breathalyzer detects lung cancer

The portable breathalyzer detects levels of so-called volatile organic compounds (VOC) — measured in a few parts per billion — that become more elevated in cancer patients.

The gold nanoparticles used in the cancer test are 5 nanometers wide, compared to a human hair that is 100,000 nanometers in width.

The breathalyzer cancer testing device could provide an early warning system that flags the disease before tumours become visible in X-rays, the Israeli researchers reported in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.

“Our results show great promise for fast, easy and cost-effective diagnosis and screening of lung cancer,” the researchers said.

While the prototype detects roughly only 86% of all lung cancers in tests, early detection of lung cancer dramatically increases the odds of survival.

Currently, only 15 percent of cases are discovered before the disease has begun to spread and is much more difficult to control.

Lung cancer deaths account for 18% of all cancer deaths.

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Tags: breathalyzer, breathalyzer detects lung cancer, cancer, cancer breakthrough, lung cancer

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