Pancreatic cancer urine test hope

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Pancreatic cancer urine test hope

A simple urine test that could detect pancreatic cancer much earlier than at present has been developed by scientists.

They found a protein "signature" only present in people with the disease.

Pancreatic cancer is often very advanced by the time it is diagnosed - and only 3% of patients are alive five years after diagnosis.

Cancer charities welcomed the study, published in Clinical Cancer Research, saying a test was "much needed".

Just under 9,000 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the UK every year. It has the lowest five-year survival rate of any common cancer and one that has barely improved in 40 years.

More than 80% of people with the disease are diagnosed when it has already spread, so they are not eligible for surgery to remove the tumour - currently the only potential cure.

Those at higher risk include people with a family history of the cancer, heavy smokers, obese people and people over 50 who are newly diagnosed with diabetes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-33738917

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