New cancer technology - 29th March 2021

The National Health Service in England is testing out some new equipment. The camera pill is a tiny camera in a clear, plastic pill.

A patient puts the pill in their mouth and swallows it. Photos are taken every two seconds as the camera moves through their body. The patient carries a special machine in a bag. This machine records the photos for doctors.

The patient can leave the hospital with the machine. When the machine is returned, doctors study the photos from the camera pill. They check for diseases like bowel cancer. Your bowels are below your stomach. Your food is processed through your bowels.

Bowel cancer is very common. But it’s hard for doctors to check the bowels for cancer. It’s important to find cancer cells when they first appear. Then, patients can start treatment sooner.

The camera pill is a useful invention. It helps doctors because the pictures give them important information.

The camera pill is also good for patients as they don’t have to stay in hospital for their cancer check. There are no painful investigations. Patients can be checked at home instead.