NHS hospitals adopt faster, more accurate bladder cancer test

NHS hospitals are increasingly adopting the Galeas bladder test, a significant advancement in diagnosing bladder cancer. This new method utilizes a simple urine sample, replacing the invasive and uncomfortable cystoscopy procedure traditionally used. Doctors hail it as a major breakthrough because it is faster, more accurate, and more convenient for patients.

The Galeas test, developed by biotech firm Nonacus, is a DNA-based test that analyzes 23 genes commonly associated with bladder cancer. A recent NHS trial involving 964 patients demonstrated its effectiveness, correctly identifying bladder cancer in 92% of participants. This contrasts with the 81% accuracy rate of cystoscopy, which involves inserting a camera into the bladder and can cause discomfort, embarrassment, or be declined by patients.

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Cystoscopy is an invasive investigation to look at the inside of the bladder. The patient is given an anaesthetic gel but otherwise remains awake. While it only takes one-to-two minutes it is an intimate examination and can be embarrassing or cause discomfort. It is commonly declined.

Jayne Douglas-Moore, a consultant urological surgeon at Leicester NHS trust, described the non-invasive test as a "significant breakthrough." She noted that it benefits both patients, who can perform the test at home, and hospitals by freeing up valuable resources. The Leicester trust was among the first to adopt the test after trial results proved convincing. Patients are currently receiving results within an average of 16 days, surpassing the NHS's 28-day faster diagnosis standard for cancer.

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The long-awaited non-invasive test is “a significant breakthrough” in diagnosing a cancer that impacts more than 10,000 people a year.