Breakthroughs In Medical Science In The Field Of Cancer

Medical Sciences is finding new ways to fight diseases everyday for the betterment of human specie. Doctors are already able to test for genetic mutations that make a person more susceptible to certain cancers. Eventually, by testing for the presence of certain gene mutations, doctors may be able to detect cancers long before they produce any symptoms and makes its treatment easy.

Though widespread screening has led to earlier diagnosis in several cancers, current diagnostic methods are not perfect. A new tool called a DNA micro-array allows scientists to analyze the patterns of gene activity in a cell. Using this information, scientists may distinguish between the aggressive prostate cancers and others.

Several groups of scientists are working on blood, saliva and urine tests to detect traces of proteins produced by aberrant genes. Advances in imaging techniques allow scientists to look at the molecular activity going on inside of cancer cells, not just at their structure. Today, imaging not only sees a lump, but a PET scan, for example, sees the biochemistry occurring within the tumor. It lets us watch the cell’s metabolism at work. Cancer cells use more glucose than healthy cells, the PET scan, which creates an image based on cells uptake of glucose, may be able to zero in on cancerous growth or detect angiogenesis within a tumor.  The use PET scans to gauge whether a targeted therapy has shut off the metabolism of tumor in cells. You don’t have wait for months to see if a patient is getting better that can be told within 48 hours with today’s technology.

MRI, meanwhile, is proving to be a promising adjunct to the imperfect art of mammography. Though ordinary mammography looks at calcium deposits and masses, MRI looks at blood vessels. All cancers have abnormal blood vessels. Another potential alternative to mammography, which would not require radiation, is also under scrutiny. The technique is optical imaging which will allow doctors to create mages of the abnormal blood vessels in a tumor by passing light rays through breast tissue.

In the future, some forms of cancer will be eradicated and others will be highly treatable. Latest research shows that one can take steps to stop cancer before it starts. Menopausal patients who had been treated for early stage tumors had a 24% lower recurrence rate when they followed a low-fat diet. Another study suggested that cholesterol-lowering drugs may reduce breast cancer risk. Colon Cancer Statins may also protect against cancer. Aspirin may reduce the risk of colon cancer and it may also improve survival. Scientists found that patients who had undergone surgery and chemotherapy and who took aspirin every day or every other day had lower risk. Prostate Cancer Studies show that some men at high risk for developing prostate cancer may benefit from the breast-cancer drug toremifene or as from taking green tea tablets.