Point-of care diagnostic devices in cancer detection

Abstract

Cancer is the leading cause of mortality in the world, claiming the lives of one in every seven people. It is commonly known that early detection and screening are critical for boosting the chances of recovery. Patients, on the other hand, rarely has the ability to utilize the facilities and services available to them due to the high cost, time commitment, and intrusive nature of many of the present methods and so, cancer remains undetected and death toll rises. Furthermore, as cancer keeps expanding in middle- and low- income countries as a non-communicable illness, it is crucial to find and invest in promising cancer treatment and control strategies. As a result, several researchers are looking into the prospect of developing non-invasive, rapid, and reliable diagnostic technologies that can be utilized in-person or by local healthcare personals at the point-of-care. Point-of-care device results are more precise, sensitive, and quickly generated, aiding in the choice of the optimum course of treatment for best patient care. Point-of-care diagnostics ought to, in theory, upgrade patient well-being while also lowering cancer-related fatalities. This review paper focuses on affordable POCTs for cancer care and aspires to encourage innovation and further investment in this space.