Cure for cancer may be easier to find with this tech

Cancer affects millions of individuals around the world each year. In 2020 alone, more than 18 million cases of various kinds of cancers were registered. While advancements in chemotherapy and radiotherapy have drastically improved the lives of cancer patients, there is still no ‘cure’. Billions are spent on research each year, but the answer still eludes scientists and medical professionals. However, now a Rs 5,000-worth sensor may help find the answer just a bit sooner.

Developed by a team of engineers from Georgia Institute of Technology and Stanford University, 'FAST' (Flexible Autonomous Sensor-measuring Tumours) is a non-invasive autonomous device that sticks to a cancer patient’s skin and measures the size of the tumour in the body. The device has a measuring sensitivity of just 10 micrometres and can send updates about the tumour directly to a smartphone. With a cost of just Rs 4,800, the device can be set up and reused multiple times. Though there is one caveat, this sensor can only be used on mice.