Researchers have used loyalty card data to estimate disease susceptibility; according to them, frequently buying over-the-counter pain relievers and indigestion pills indicates a higher risk of ovarian cancer.
Tracking what shoppers buy through loyalty card data could help identify those with early signs of cancer, a new study suggests.
Frequently buying over-the-counter painkillers and indigestion pills indicates a higher risk of ovarian cancer, which is usually diagnosed late, according to the research authors.
There is no reliable screening test, and symptoms, such as swelling, can be vague and confused with other common, harmless conditions.
Symptoms include: bloating, indigestion, pelvic or abdominal pain, loss of appetite or feeling full quickly after eating, and needing to urinate more frequently.
Early diagnosis increases the chances of successful treatment.
Fiona Murphy was 25 when she was diagnosed with a rare type of ovarian cancer. She had been suffering from stomach cramps and indigestion for some years and doctors repeatedly thought it was irritable bowel syndrome (IBS or IBS).
“I was on heartburn medication before I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I always carried it in my purse. I couldn’t leave the house without it,” she tells BBC News. “My symptoms were vague but frequent and ongoing. This is what you need to be aware of.”
Fiona’s symptoms continued and a CT scan revealed ovarian cancer.
Now 39, Fiona has been helping staff at Imperial College London in England with their research.
“I wanted to help with the development of this study because I’ve been misdiagnosed for almost two years,” he says.
“Getting diagnosed early is key. If my cancer had been discovered earlier, I would have had far fewer surgeries and better fertility options.”
I study
James Flanagan, lead author of the paper funded by Cancer Research UK, a UK-based non-profit dedicated to cancer research, says: ‘The cancer symptoms we are looking for are very common, but for some women they can be the first signs of something more serious”.
“Using shopping data, our study found a dramatic increase in pain and indigestion medication purchases among women with ovarian cancer, up to eight months before diagnosis, compared to women without ovarian cancer.
“This indicates that long before women recognize their symptoms as alarming enough to go to the doctor, they may be able to treat them at home.”
The researchers worked with two major retailers and 283 female customers, who agreed to share their shopping data for six years. More than half were diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
More research is needed to confirm the findings. The team now plans to test whether the shopping data can also help detect other types of cancer, such as stomach, liver and bladder cancer.
The study was published in the scientific journal JMIR Public Health and Surveillance.
-This article was originally published in https://www.bbc.com/portuguese/geral-64426391
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
