Injectable Tumor Probe Tracks Cancer Treatments
Radiation, in strong enough doses, is deadly. A short exposure can certainly kill, but controlled exposures can be useful, targeting cancer cells and helping patients to fight their disease and recover. However, the administration of radiation for cancer treatment has always been a bit of a black art, with doctors having to wait for days, weeks, or months after a treatment to check on whether a tumor has been affected. Now, a new radiation-detecting probe can let doctors know exactly how much that tumor has been affected, and can do so instantly. The probe can be inserted directly into the tumor and report the exact dose of radiation received. From that information, doctors can calculate just how much radiation they need to apply to the patient and can more specifically target the dose, thereby decreasing the debilitating side-effects so common with cancer treatment. The probe is also RFID-enabled, meaning it can be identified and read wirelessly (in the same way that RFID technology wirelessly charges drivers with tolls when they pass through toll booths).
Right now the prototype probe is about the size of a pin -- long and narrow -- but future versions are expected to be shrunk to the size of a grain of rice. Trials are expected to begin in 2010 and, if all goes well, could usher in a new era of precision cancer treatments -- which could come in handy if all the doom and gloom about cell phone-induced cancer turns out to be true!
From Engadget
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Richard @ Apr 10th 2008 6:34PM
Why does it take until 2010 for the stinking TRIALS to begin? Then, tack on another five years for FDA bureaucracy and approvals and what do you got? A whole lot more cancer deaths. My brother, who died of lymphoma cancer two years ago, is probably rolling over in his grave. Something like this could have helped him and lots of other people in the same boat. It simply shouldn't be taking this long to find solutions.
Richard
Patricia L. @ Apr 10th 2008 9:56PM
What is a real shame, there are hundreds of Natural Cures for Cancer. I refused Chemo and Radiation and have been working at mine having had my "Dr.'s death sentence years ago. Once you kill your immune system with Chemo and Radiation, it's only a matter of time until the Cancer comes back with a rengence and takes you out. It takes work to find all of the information and it takes a strong will to do what you need to do, but you don't have to suffer with all of those terrible side effects the Dr. will put you through. Dr.'s are for diagnosing. A good strong faith in God and the will to make it is a much better path to take.
ART R @ Apr 11th 2008 12:12AM
I have esopageal cancer and was given 4 months to live in april of 2007. Iwas also told that if I took chemo that it would extend my time by 10-12 months. What we all have to understand is that they already have a cure for all types of cancers!!!! If they started to use these cures Think of all the jobs in research. all the money spend for the salaries, and all of the equipment that 's brought for so called studies would be lost by the so called researchers and we would have an estimated 500.000 people who would lose theie jobs!! think about this.researchers found a cure for polio and had the vaccine to eradicate it in approx. 4 years- and this was in the 1950- 1960's when the technology was no were close to what we have now. THINK ABOUT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!