New apps are spotting cancer and other diseases

BiliScreen is a new app developed by researchers at the University of Washington, that the creators claim can screen for pancreatic cancer and other diseases simply by taking a selfie on a smartphone. One of the earliest visible symptoms of pancreatic cancer is jaundice – which gives a yellow discoloration of the whites of the eyes and skin. Using the BiliScreen app, the camera on a smartphone can detect minute levels of the chemical bilirubin in the whites of a person’s eye. Meanwhile, in Mexico a student developed a bra that can help to detect breast cancer, while a UK-based retailer has teamed up with a charity to develop a suncream for those working in the construction industry. Could smartphone technology lead the way to a new culture of self-diagnostics as well as provide healthcare facilities to the under-served?