Royal Preston Hospital cancer centre receives funds for equipment to detect treatment side effects

Rosemere Cancer Foundation has spent over £4,000 on equipment that can detect side effects of cancer treatment.

The hydrogen breath test monitor, mouthpieces and calibration kit can be used to diagnose Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO).

Former cancer patients, whose treatment may have put them more at risk, can be checked for the disorder.

SIBO’s symptoms can include stomach pain, nausea, bloating and more.

Initial treatment is by antibiotics which is more likely to occur in those who have undergone pelvic area radiotherapy to treat bowel, bladder, prostate and gynaecological cancers.

The hydrogen breat test monitor to detect SIBO

Advanced clinical practitioner, Rachel Rigby contacted Rosemere to request funding for the equipment.

She said: “Pelvic radiotherapy can result in a change to the normal function of the bowel, resulting in the overgrowth of harmful bacteria.

“Not only can this cause some pretty miserable symptoms, the part of the small bowel that is affected is also responsible for the absorption of nutrients so it’s important to test former cancer patients with symptoms that suggest SIBO so the condition can either be discounted or treated to prevent further complications, especially those associated with malnutrition.”

The new device is for Rosemere Cancer Centre’s Late Effects Pelvic Radiation Disease (PRD) Clinic which treats former cancer patients left with side-effects from radiotherapy treatment.

Anyone who has undergone pelvic radiotherapy which they believe may have led them to suffer SIBO or who are experiencing other issues can ask their consultant or clinical nurse specialist for a referral to the clinic.

SIBO can also be more common in people with diagnosed bowel conditions.

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