30s
The NHS has started using a brain-tumour test that cuts typing from as long as eight weeks to two hours. Patients can start radiotherapy and chemotherapy sooner.
3 min
The BBC's medical editor reported on 25 September that the NHS has started using a rapid test to identify which type of brain tumour a patient has. Accurate typing used to take up to eight weeks. It can now be done within two hours, so radiotherapy and chemotherapy can start sooner. The story follows Steve Palmer, 55, from Nottingham: surgeons had the type while they were still removing the tumour.
10 min
The BBC reported on 25 September that the NHS has started using a new brain-tumour test. It identifies the type of tumour. It does not replace surgery. An accurate type used to take up to about eight weeks. It can now come back within two hours. An earlier type means radiotherapy and chemotherapy can start earlier, and patients are not left waiting weeks without a name for the tumour. The example in the story is Steve Palmer, 55, from Nottingham: surgeons were still removing the tumour when the result came back. The BBC quotes him saying the quick diagnosis removed weeks of anxiety. This brief does not describe the lab method. The time comparison and this one case come from the BBC story.