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Suspected throat cancer patients are benefiting from faster diagnosis and earlier treatment thanks to a pioneering biopsy technique.

This procedure at Southend Hospital, called transnasal oesophagoscopy, means eligible patients find out their results two to three weeks earlier than with the traditional approach.

Mr Oliver Sanders, Ear, Nose, and Throat Registrar at the Trust, said: “It’s about seeing patients as quickly as possible, which means we can either give them the good news that they don’t have cancer, or make sure they start treatment sooner if they do.”

With the new procedure doctors examine a patient’s throat, voice box or food pipe and take tissue samples in a single 45-minute appointment, using small surgical instruments passed through the tube.

Unlike the traditional method, needing general anaesthetic and an operating theatre, this new approach uses a flexible telescope passed through the nose and can be done under local anaesthetic, meaning patients get to go home the same day.

Mr Sanders added: “The patients we see who have been referred to the service will have noticed a change in their voice, or perhaps are having difficulty swallowing. We’ll see them for an initial examination with an endoscopic camera, and if we see anything that needs further investigation we’ll ask them to come back for an endoscopic biopsy.”

One of the first patients to benefit from it was Alan Dugdale, 57, a semi-professional singer from Rochford. 

Alan was referred after he spotted changes to his voice. He underwent an initial check with an endoscopic camera, which revealed a potential growth on his vocal cords and was then offered the transnasal oesophagoscopy to check for cancer.

Luckily, Alan’s results came back negative, and he had nothing but praise for the staff.

He said: “As someone who is usually anxious about operating theatres, the idea of a general anaesthetic and time off work really didn’t appeal. Being able to have this under a local anaesthetic was a relief. Mr Sanders explained everything so clearly, which put my mind at ease.”

Once fully established at Southend Hospital, the service is set to expand to Basildon and Broomfield hospitals, meaning even more patients across the region will benefit from faster and less invasive procedures.