Shan Wang of Stanford has used a GMR chip smaller than a postage stamp to detect carcinoma-embryonic antigen (a sign of colon and rectal cancer) and human papilloma virus, the main cause of cervical cancer.

ECONOMIST: Labs on a chip

Although there doesn't appear to be a direct link between diverticular disease and colon or rectal cancer, diverticular disease may make cancer more difficult to diagnose.

CNN: Diverticulitis