Revolutionary: Smartphone app recognizes intestinal cancer precursor at lightning speed!

Revolutionary: Smartphone app recognizes intestinal cancer precursor at lightning speed!

researchers at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg have made significant progress in the early detection of colon cancer. A newly developed smartphone app proves to be a promising approach to identify cancer preliminary stages. In a recent study, the app was able to recognize dangerous preliminary stages in 28 percent of the cases, which almost corresponds to the result of traditional laboratory tests that are 34 percent. Both procedures show high accuracy by correctly identifying healthy people in 92 percent of cases. The Federal Ministry of Health recommends that men over 50 and women aged 55 and over not only use the app, but also a colonoscopy, since this method is more reliable.

The app works similarly to a Corona test. Users take a stool test at home and mix them in a tube with a special solution. The liquid is then put on a test cassette that is photographed with the smartphone. After 15 minutes, the app shows the result. Fortunately, almost 90 percent of the study participants rated this test as a sensible alternative to conventional methods.

increase in participation in the provision

The use of early cancer detection is still low in Germany. Only 20 percent of the population take part in the planned preventive examinations. Various initiatives, such as the Barmer, come in here. After the Barmer introduced a intestinal test set for at home in 2022, this process was revised based on user feedback to make it easier, faster and safer. This initiative is intended to help increase the low participation rates in the provision. At the end of 2022, only 4 percent of the legitimate men and 7 percent of women had a stool test.

The digital offers of the barmers enable insured persons to request chair tests online and to send them to a laboratory free of charge for evaluation. Up to 25,000 people per week are invited to early detection via the Barmer app. All insured persons aged 40 and over are entitled to; The examination of 50 years from 50 years is planned. In particular, the focus is on increasing diseases in younger people, which is why the offer also applies to insured persons aged 40 and over.

goals and further developments

The Barmer has set itself the goal of lifting the participation rate in colon cancer screening to the level of the Netherlands, where 70 percent of the beneficiaries are tested in this regard. One of the measures to increase this quota includes addressed concerns regarding discretion in the test set. It is sent in a neutral envelope to protect the anonymity of the users. The test process was also adjusted: instead of three samples, one to three samples are now possible, and the digital transmission should provide the test results faster.

The need for early detection cannot be assessed high enough, since around 33,000 men and 26,000 women fall ill in Germany every year and around 25,000 people die from it. In addition, organizations such as the Life PLASS Foundation support digital prevention and emphasize the importance of regular intestinal cancer.

While the smartphone app is a promising alternative to the conventional method, contacting the general practitioner remains an essential part of the entire pension process. Further information about digital colon cancer early detection can be called up via the platform of the Barmer.

Visit for more details: SWR href = "https://www.barmer.de/verwerrt/transportenz/transportenzbericht4/darmkreKruhruehkernungs-digital-1269214"> Barmer Transparency report and Barmer press information .