Laser beams could help detect cervical cancer at an early stage , say researchers from China . The new technique involves firing pulses of light , more of which is absorbed by cancerous cells than by healthy tissue . The way the cancer cells react to the light means they can then be picked up on an ultrasound scan . The scan can show not only if someone has the disease , but also potentially how advanced it is . The way the cancer cells react to the light from the laser beams means they can then be picked up on an ultrasound scan . More than 3,000 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed each year in the UK , with around 1,000 women dying from it . Almost all cases are caused by the human papillomavirus ( HPV ) , often spread during sex . There are more than 100 types of HPV , many of which are harmless . But some can disrupt the normal functioning of the cells of the cervix and can eventually trigger the growth of cancer . Cervical smear tests are used to screen for abnormal cells — and the results may lead to a physical examination ( where the cells are examined in situ using a microscope ) and then a biopsy . A CT or MRI scan is performed only if the biopsy suggests there is cancer . Although cervical screening — offered to all women over 25 — has led to a large drop in the numbers affected by cervical cancer and in deaths , lesions can be missed and visual examinations can also lead to unnecessary biopsies . The new technology , known as photoacoustic imaging , requires neither a biopsy nor a smear test . It works on the principle that cancerous tissues ( and possibly even pre-cancerous cells ) absorbs more light than healthy tissue . This is because of changes in cancerous tissue such as the formation of new , abnormal blood vessels and fewer collagen fibres ( a tough , connective tissue ) . Cervical smear tests are used to screen for abnormal cells — and the results may lead to a physical examination ( where the cells are examined in situ using a microscope ) and then a biopsy . The cancerous tissue can then be picked up on an ultrasound scan because the extra energy absorbed from the light is converted into heat , which causes the cells to expand and affects the way soundwaves bounce back to the scanner , creating an image of the cells with cancerous changes . Photoacoustic imaging could also identify the stage of the disease without a biopsy , say the researchers . This is because the more advanced the disease , the greater the amount of light and energy absorbed by the cells ; these areas then look even more pronounced on a scan . The technique has so far been tested on tissue samples from 30 women — some with cancer and some who were healthy — which showed that it can distinguish between the two . ‘ We have shown for the first time that photoacoustic imaging has the potential to make better diagnoses and help save lives , ’ say the researchers from Central South University , China . The study is published in Biomedical Optics Express , the journal of the Optical Society of America . The same technology is also being investigated for detecting and monitoring other cancers , including breast and skin . Fiona Osgun , Cancer Research UK ’ s health information officer , said : ‘ This small study is at a very early stage and we are a long way from knowing if this technique could diagnose cervical cancer . Cervical screening is the best way to detect cervical changes early before they develop into cancer. ’ _____________________________________________________________ . Meanwhile , a special red‑light laser could banish bad breath . Halitosis is typically caused by bacteria in the mouth which produce unpleasant smelling chemicals as they break down food . A team of researchers from the University Nove de Julho in Brazil found that low-level laser light , which can kill bacteria , cut levels of bad breath-causing chemicals by around a third in 60 minutes . The light is used in conjunction with a special light-sensitive dye on a patient ’ s tongue , in order to target the bacteria-killing effects of the laser .
More than 3,000 cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed each year in UK . The study found that the risk for developing a new case was about one in every 10,000 women who had been given Gardasil by their GP or private healthcare provider.