I like the idea of doing testing at home. Many people wait and wait, myself included, until we are convinced something is wrong before we go and see a Doctor. By then it may be too late.
Home testing however seems an ideal solution such as was proposed here for bowel cancer. However it has the two fold disadvantages that it is sent out every two years to those on the high risk age group, and this changes depending where you live, and that you need to send it away for analysis. However it is a step forward in diagnosis.
As well as this we have a potential test that can be applied to urine to identify aggressive strains of prostrate cancer. Read here. By the looks of this it will be a test where a sample is taken at the surgery and sent away for analysis as well.
These are just examples of the many non invasive tests that can be carried out on our waste products to provide information on our health. We need some tests that don’t need to sit in a lab to mature and the results can be read on a display.
Although what we really need is a toilet designed to be very water efficient with a build in analysis capability for analysing our waste for any diseases. Then letting us know that something has been detected and providing a very rapid detection system. First whiff, excuse the pun, of anything up with our waste and we can get it looked at straight away when there is the best chance to do something about it.
It’s a pity that blokes don’t have as good agents as women. They have regular smear tests and breast exams from a much early age and yet for men’s issues it is left until we are significantly older. This coupled with the ‘tough man’ attitude means many men don’t detect these things until it is way too late, particularly at a young age. This must be sexual discrimination but as men are the victims is fine. As usual.
Early detection and diagnosis of anything saves money and, with health issues, lives.