There is confidence that a new cancer detection device being developed, could be transformational. 

Cancer genetics and biology expert, Professor Parry Guilford, is leading an Otago University team developing an "indwelling device" that could routinely detect early-stage cancer. 

He told Mike Hosking there's a chance it will be ready to use in about five years.

"It's based on a simple device you put in your arm. It can be used remotely...you don't need to have people travelling to big cities, to big centres for their diagnostic tests."

He said the technology would be inserted into the body and left there for about 30 minutes - collecting cancer DNA from the bloodstream. 

"The idea is to be able to find cancer in the early stage where it can still be cured by simple surgery or at least in the early stage where treatment options like chemotherapy or radiotherapy are more likely to be effective."

Guilford has received a New Zealand Health Research Council Explorer Grant, funding the next two years of development.