Breath test to detect esophageal cancer could be a breakthrough for testing other cancers

It is a simple test – blow into a plastic bag, analyse it – and see if the patient has esophageal cancer, a tumour in the windpipe.

Trials are underway at Imperial College London – with hopes the test could be rolled out in GP surgeries within five years.

Scientists say it could also be used for a range of other hard to detect cancers.