THIS giant screen is the latest weapon in the battle against cancer that allows junior doctors and medical trainees to get up close and personal with tumours.

Cancer Research UK's Oxford Centre has funded a 55-inch widescreen screen that allows doctors and medical students to manipulate and study pictures of tumours.

Previously medics have had to use microscopes linked to other microscopes used by teachers to study cancerous cells.

But this new £25,780 screen, which was unveiled at the John Radcliffe Hospital last week, allows doctors and medical students to zoom in and out and rotate the images to find features that could improve their prognosis.

It is hoped the technology will improve the teaching of junior doctors and medical students so they can provide the best possible cancer diagnosis to patients.

Histopathology speciality trainee Dr Andrew Smith said learning what to look for and how to recognise tumours is a vital part of training.

He added: "I think using interactive technology in this way also makes the subject more accessible."

Senior University Lecturer in Pathology Dr Clare Verrill, who taught the first session, said: "Having this digital screen, enables a new and exciting way of teaching where learners and teachers are able to interact with the images and makes for stimulating and interesting discussions."