It would soon be possible to detect cancer at home using a home detection kit as scientists are working on a tiny liquid sensor that may detect cancer.

The work is being done by Jae Kwon, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, University of Missouri. He is developing an acoustic resonant sensor which would be smaller than a human hair that would enable you to test bodily fluids for a variety of diseases that will include breast and prostate cancers.

Kwon explained, "Many disease-related substances in liquids are not easily tracked. In a liquid environment, most sensors experience a significant loss of signal quality, but by using highly sensitive, low-signal-loss acoustic resonant sensors in a liquid, these substances can be effectively and quickly detected, a brand-new concept that will result in a noninvasive approach for breast cancer detection."

Micro/nanoelectromechanical systems (M/NEMS) is being put to use by Kwon for the sensor.

IEEE International Conference on Solid-state, Sensors, Actuators and Microsystems and the IEEE Conference on Sensors has already carried Kwon's sensor research.

To continue his work on this sensor for five more years Kwon was awarded $400,000, last year for a National Science Foundation CAREER Award.