Groundbreaking New ‘Breathalyser’ Could Detect Early Signs of Cancer

A new breathalyser is currently on trial in the United Kingdom as it may prove to be a way to detect the early signs of certain cancers. The breathalyser was invented by Billy Boyle who lost his 36-year-old wife Kate Gross to cancer on Christmas Day last year. The device is now being trialled by the NHS as it appears to detect chemicals associated with a number of cancers including lung cancer and bowel cancer. If successful, the device could potentially save about 10,000 lives. Mr Boyle stated that the loss of his inspirational wife and mother of their five-year-old twin boys had drove him on to create the device which could see hundreds if not thousands of people getting diagnosed and therefore treated earlier. Billy, Kate and their sons. (Pic: John Lawrence) “Because of the experience of my wife and my family, we saw the devastation that cancer brings to families,” he explained to Sky News. “You develop technologies for a reason. Sometimes it’s for monetary gain. Other times it’s to make a difference and I think we have a real opportunity to try and improve the lives of patients,” he continued. “When my wife was sick, we talked about what motivated her, what motivates me. “Knowing the conversations I had with her about how we can develop technology for the benefit of others is something that makes me walk into the office every day. It puts an extra spring in my step.” The LuCID project (lung cancer indicator detection) is reportedly able to detect the presence of certain chemicals on a person’s breath. “The human body makes chemicals, a lot of them are just normal, everyday chemicals, but with cancer and other diseases the cells go a bit wrong and start to make chemicals differently." Billy and Kate (Pic: John Lawrence) The use of the device may help early detection of the disease, thus increasing patient’s chances of survival. “If successful, this test could be delivered locally – for example at GP surgeries and pharmacies for people assessed at being high risk,” said Dr Jonathan Bennett. Kate Gross kept a blog about her illness which has been made into a book Late Fragments: Everything I want to Tell You (About This Magnificent Life).