Skip to main content

Your web searches could help doctors detect lung cancer earlier

bing-search-results-page
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Doctors may have found a new symptom of lung cancer — web searches.

In ongoing efforts to establish early detection techniques, Microsoft researchers believe that your search history just might serve as an interesting tool. As per a new study published in the journal JAMA Oncology, “Pattern analysis and recognition based on search log data holds opportunity for identifying risk factors and for framing new directions with the early detection of lung carcinoma.” That is to say, what you’re Googling could help doctors detect the deadly disease up to a year sooner than current diagnostic methods allow in more than one-third of cases.

As Bloomberg reports, researchers Ryen White and Eric Horvitz looked into anonymous searches in Microsoft’s search engine Bing. In particular, they examined searchers whose queries seemed to suggest a recent lung cancer diagnosis, either looking for questions about treatments or the more straightforward, “I was just diagnosed with lung cancer.”

Afterwards, they looked at these searchers’ older queries to look for patterns that might’ve suggested symptoms of cancer before the official diagnosis, such as queries into bronchitis, chest pain, or blood in sputum. Other risk factors, like gender, age, race, and environment, were also taken into consideration. Finally, the researchers looked into whether the searcher was a smoker by keeping tabs on queries related to quitting smoking or Nicorette gum.

Apparently, this method proved quite effective. “With one false positive in 1,000, 39 percent of cases can be caught a year earlier, according to the study,” Bloomberg reported. “Dropping to one false positive per 100,000 still could allow researchers to catch 3 percent of cases a year earlier.”

And when it comes to cancer, finding the problem early is key to treatment. “I have very stark memories of my first lung cancer patient as a medical student. I remember saying is this operable? He had just come in, but the lung cancer was already in his brain,” Horvitz said. “The prospect we could save patients’ lives’ with one or more methods of pre-screening is intriguing.”

Of course, the next step for the Microsoft team is actually implementing their new discovery. Horvitz notes that one potential route forward would be to create an app that monitors patients’ search history and alert them if they seem to be at risk. Horvitz and Gray are also hoping to find volunteers who are willing to grant researchers access to both their medical records and search logs so that researchers can find a stronger link between the two.

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
ClipDart is an on-demand barber app aimed at people of color
ClipDart founder, Kyle Parker.

It’s funny how we can take certain things for granted, like haircuts. Over the course of more than 50 years of living in different cities, different neighborhoods, or even visiting different countries, not once have I ever worried about whether I could find someone who could cut my hair the way I liked. Then again, I’m white.

But if you’re a person of color, it can be an entirely different experience. That’s what Kyle Parker discovered when he left his hometown of Chicago in 2013 to attend Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, population 9,031. While 24% of Grinnell College’s students identify themselves as people of color, fewer than 10% of residents of the city of Grinnell would say the same of themselves.

Read more
Circular confirms its $259 smart ring is coming to the U.S.
best wearables of ces 2022 circular ring

The Circular smart ring is finally going to be available for pre-order on Sunday, February 27, via the Circular website and will cost $259. The wearable tech will be available for presale in European countries (France, Germany, the U.K., and Italy,) the United States, Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Pre-orders will go live at 1:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 27. Those who pre-order the smart ring should expect delivery between April and June 2022, according to a Circular press release.

Circular doesn't clarify what ring sizes will be available when presales go live, however, the company has said that seven sizes for both men and women will be available. Digital Trends has reached out for clarification on the available sizes, and will update this article when we hear back. The Circular smart ring also comes in four different colors that can be switched out with replaceable outer shells: Black, rose gold, silver, and gold.

Read more
How to take an ECG with your Apple Watch and see irregular heart notifications
ecg app apple watch

The ECG app is one of the most vital features of the Apple Watch, allowing you to see an electrocardiogram of your heart whenever you want. Along with this, the Apple Watch can notify you of irregular heart rhythms.

Read more