Chemists to tackle cancer

People with a worrying cough, problems swallowing or blood in their urine will soon be able to be referred for scans and checks by a pharmacist, rather than by their GP. A new pilot scheme, in England, aims to diagnose more cancers early, when there is a better chance of a cure. The NHS also plans to offer Jewish people genetic screening – as up to one in 40 has Brca mutations, linked to a higher risk of breast, ovarian and prostate cancers, compared with one in 400 in the general population.