SCI/TECH: Scientists Announce World's Most Sensitive Cancer Test, page 1

posted on Apr, 12 2005 @ 12:43 PM

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A new test for cancer uses the stretchiness of a cell instead of other less measurable characteristics. This new method, which utilizes an infrared laser, can test as few as 50 cells to come up with a diagnosis, and will allow doctors to test some patients that previously could not be tested with more intrusive methods.

www.physorg.com

More importantly, the optical stretcher can yield crucial information on the spread of cancer. The softer the cancer cells, the more likely they are to travel through the body and produce secondary tumors (known as metastases). Traditionally, doctors have had to check nearby lymph nodes for cancer cells. However, the optical stretcher can determine, just by measuring cells from the primary tumor, whether or not the cancer will spread. This is the first time that anyone has been able to diagnose metastasis without locating the secondary tumors.

Secondary tumors can be difficult to find, and women with breast cancer often undergo precautionary mastectomy or whole-body chemotherapy. The optical stretcher will allow many women to avoid the emotional and physical side-effects of such unnecessary treatment.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

This high speed, low cost method is a fantastic breakthrough for medicine. While only in the prototype and testing stages, the device could already help in the diagnosis of cancer. It is already the most sensitive and quickest method available for identifying cancer cells. And, for the first time, we have a technique than can forecast the spread of cancer.

FlyersFan

posted on Apr, 12 2005 @ 08:07 PM

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Thank you for posting this. I received some disturbing medical news
today and I'll be going for biopsies next week. The more information
I have on up to date cancer treatments and investigations ... the better
I feel. Thanks again.

NoPhobos

posted on Apr, 13 2005 @ 09:23 AM

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I’m sorry to hear that, but good luck with your diagnosis and treatment anyway. Every one of us has someone close to us who has gone through this, or they have themselves. Today’s cancer and treatment technology is far superior to what it was only a year or two ago. Even cancers that were considered terminal two years ago can be wiped out today.

Unfortunately, this method is still in the trial phase of implementation. Since the materials seem to be fairly cheap, I bet it will be available very soon. I think the main advancement is: very quickly, doctors will be able see if the cancer has spread. Current methods are time consuming and sometimes very invasive.

Again, good luck with your diagnosis.

Phugedaboudet

posted on Apr, 13 2005 @ 12:46 PM

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wow, another way to find out you have cancer.

In todays worls, with lifespans reaching well past the century mark, one of the things that you can pretty much count on is some sort of cancer. If not more than one-it's a byproduct of the world, the politics, the situations we all live in.

If you're suspected of having cancer, now for sure you know you have it. Let the chemotherapy and surgeries and the rest of the modern medicine and insurance industry arsenal do what it does best...