Techniques developed by atomic physicists are being used to develop the first of what promises to be a new generation of cancer treatments in place of conventional radiotherapy. One day doctors could even be using anti-matter.
Cancer cells were successfully targeted with anti-matter subatomic particles, causing intense biological damage leading to cell death.
These pilot experiments may have future potential. But applications borrowed from particle physics are already being used in cancer treatment to help avoid the major side effects of radiotherapy.
posted by Shaun A. Saunders
8 comments:
I think the key word here is "energetic" The problem with conventional radiation cancer treatment is the fact that too much damage is done to surrounding tissue. Now they are contemplating using particles that are whole orders more energetic! Of course the workaround is to lower the power (something I question in antimatter) and narrow the area affected. Hummmm sounds just like the present implementation. I guess I have trouble killing gnats with sledgehammers, no matter how fine the aim.
Right on the spot, Paul. I just don't see the logic in any of this but the industry associated with it makes lots of money (and it was only yesterday that I saw a list of people who had devised alternative approaches to these sort of crude treatments and who, it seems, all seemed to die quickly after their discoveries became very public...)
Shaun, you one of them conspiracy nuts? lol you know I laugh, but then you look and say, why isn't there more nay sayers amongst the ranks? Reminds me of the MP skit where the guy would come up with the most outrageous ideas and everyone would say Brilliant!
Paul - ah yes, 'conspiracy'... (LOL) the word people love to use when it's easier to stick one's head in the sand - and believe without evidence that the world is a wonderful place full of people who really do care about YOU rather than their own interests - than it is to look at the bigger picture and all the evidence available on a given topic... human nature and individuals' apathy never fails to amaze me!
Oh I suspect that there are those that would see the world through rose tint. But at the other end of the spectrum are those that would have us believe that double dealing underhandedness lurks around every corner. Between these factions I believe is the balancing point of Ocam's razor. No, I am not saying that the world balances on simplicities, or the cures of the world's ills are simplistic. But behind the rose lenses and beyond the "everyones out to get me" are the real answers. One must only divest themselves of patent answers and knee jerk responses to find them.
Yes, you've hit the nail on the proverbial - find a balance between the extremes, and think before reacting. Pretty good advice at any time, I reckon.
You know, that's just the point. The FDA lets practically anything ride these days.
Hi Courtney,
I guess from a 'Mallcity' perspective, the quesion is, what impact will this treatment have on the Consumer Confidence Index? And will it make Eternity Bank happy?
(Was that the FDA you referred to, or the BCC - Bureau of Consumer Confidence?)
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