A brutal illness that significantly raises the chances of developing some cancers could be caught sooner than ever thanks to pioneering screening techniques in Newcaste's hospitals.
The Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust - which runs the Freeman and the RVI hospitals - has been awarded more than £1.8 million in NHGS England cash to expand the use of test which can spot people who have the rare Lynch syndrome.
Lynch syndrome is a genetic condition which increases the likelihood that someone will get cancer - particularly colorectal cancer, also known as bowel cancer.
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But the new NHS funding means top medics at hospitals in Newcastle are able to spot Lynch earlier with a pioneering test - and then a DNA test can be offered to that person's relatives to identify who else may be at risk of the condition.
The new test sees samples of a tumour taken, and they're then screened to see if a patient has Lynch syndrome and if their relatives need to be monitored.
It was developed in Newcastle.
It is estimated that there are more than 100,000 people with Lynch syndrome, but because symptoms are often ignored, medics think the "vast majority" don't know they have the condition.
That means they can develop cancer.
Those affected can start to develop cancers in their teens and early 20s. The new test boosts the chances that someone with Lynch will be screened for cancer early - and this means medics are more likely to catch it earlier, when patients are more likely to survive.
Ciaron McAnulty, a clinical scientist at the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "The success of creating this accessible test for Lynch syndrome, is a strong example of close partnership working between NHS and research scientists, emphasising the value of sharing expertise and innovation across organisations.
"Bowel cancer is most often treatable and curable, especially if diagnosed early, with a good survival rate."
Ciaron said the new test had many advantages and could be used at scale.
He added: "This test can be carried out at low cost and in high numbers. It will help to identify thousands of cancers earlier, when it is easier to treat, giving a much more positive outcome for patients and families."
The funding will now see the test rolled out across the UK - with the Trust working in collaboration with colleagues from Newcastle University, the Academic Health Science Network for the North East and North Cumbria, among others..
