Scientists develop new way to identify skin cancer

Scientists at the University of Warwick have identified a new way to detect skin cancer.

Using Terahertz (THz) waves, with some early patient trials already underway, the hope is to speed up surgery and help surgeons remove cancers while leaving as much healthy skin as possible.

The THz waves fall between infrared and microwaves on the electromagnetic spectrum, they can be used in scans to map the extent of tumours more accurately.

Professor Emma MacPherson, who is involved in the research, explained that THz waves were “a million times lower frequency than X-rays, so it’s really safe and it’s really sensitive to subtle changes in water concentration”.

In skin cancers, the amount of water in the skin is different when compared to the healthy skin around it.

Currently, a surgeon will draw on years of experience and eyeball the cancer to make a decision on how much to cut out.  Surgery can take hours.  However, if the THz trials are successful, doctors could instead scan the cancer first and know exactly where to cut, potentially speeding things up and helping to preserve as much healthy skin as possible.

Early trials on patients have been carried out and more are planned for the summer.

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (jacquelinevance@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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