Breast cancer ribbon.Photo Courtesy: Flickr
Breast cancer ribbon.Photo Courtesy: Flickr

A blast of light 'can soon kill breast cancer'

Tue-Jun 30, 2009

London / Press Trust of India

Here's some good news for those suffering from breast cancer -- scientists have developed what they claim is a new treatment which could destroy tumours with a blast of laser light. In fact, a team of British surgeons has developed the revolutionary treatment for breast cancer, which involves no surgery, can be carried out in only a few minutes and doesn't harm healthy cells.

Breast cancer surgeon Mo Keshtgar, who led the team at the Royal Free Hospital, said: "The key appeal is that it attacks and destroys cancer cells while retaining viability of the surrounding normal cells. "Breast cancer can be particularly traumatic, with more invasive treatments leaving physical and emotional scars.

Our treatment will keep the structure of the connective tissue intact, meaning the breast doesn't become deformed." The researchers plans to start clinical trials of the "photodynamic therapy" on 20 patients this year. During PDT, a drug is injected into the patient's bloodstream that makes the
cancer cells extremely sensitive to light.

According to them, when a low-level laser beam is shone at the cancer through the skin, the cells self-destruct -- it could even offer an alternative to radiotherapy for some women, the Daily Mail reported.
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Comments For This Post

This is pretty interesting. If this comes out successful in their further tests, I believe this will be a breakthrough in the treatment of cancer.

Thu, 07/02/2009 - 13:15

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