An anonymous reader writes "BBC news is reporting a new handheld scanner that can detect cancers in patients. In clinical trials at a hospital in Milan, the scanner was able to correctly identify 93% of prostate cancer patients whose condition was later confirmed by a biopsy operation."
Let's just hope the device isn't *causing* cancer
by
anthony_dipierro
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· Score: 2, Interesting
The device, which looks a little like the metal detectors used in airports, works because different types of body tissue resonated in different ways when exposed to a fluctuating frequency of microwaves given off by the device.
I thought microwaves were bad for you.
Re:Let's just hope the device isn't *causing* canc
by
Sgt+York
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· Score: 3, Interesting
They are, but the doses here aren't high enough to hurt you.
This reminded me of something I heard years ago, in college. A guy from a cancer research organization (Stehlin) came by & talked to our class about cancer treatments. One of the investigative techniques focused on microwaves.
Apparently, it's more damaging to cancer than normal cells (has to do with plasma membrane composition). If exposed to low levels for a fairly long period of time (several minutes to an hour a day for several weeks), the tumor would dissolve and the local normal tissue would remain. The main problem they had at the time, he said, was that the cancer cells tended to lyse all at the same time, and the subject would go into lethal toxic shock, a prety bad way to go(this was working in mice.)
This was a while ago, 1990 or 91. I haven't heard anything from them about this stuff in a while, so it probably fell through.
--
There is a reason for everything. Sometimes that reason just sucks.
Watch for these in Insureance offices first
by
infonography
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· Score: 1, Interesting
Sorry Mr Morton, we can't issues you that 4 million dollar policy, you have cancer. It's a pre-existing condition so you assed out.
-- Sorry about the writing. Robot fingers, you know? Cliff Steele in DOOM PATROL #23
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I thought microwaves were bad for you.
This reminded me of something I heard years ago, in college. A guy from a cancer research organization (Stehlin) came by & talked to our class about cancer treatments. One of the investigative techniques focused on microwaves.
Apparently, it's more damaging to cancer than normal cells (has to do with plasma membrane composition). If exposed to low levels for a fairly long period of time (several minutes to an hour a day for several weeks), the tumor would dissolve and the local normal tissue would remain. The main problem they had at the time, he said, was that the cancer cells tended to lyse all at the same time, and the subject would go into lethal toxic shock, a prety bad way to go(this was working in mice.)
This was a while ago, 1990 or 91. I haven't heard anything from them about this stuff in a while, so it probably fell through.
There is a reason for everything. Sometimes that reason just sucks.
Sorry Mr Morton, we can't issues you that 4 million dollar policy, you have cancer. It's a pre-existing condition so you assed out.
Sorry about the writing. Robot fingers, you know? Cliff Steele in DOOM PATROL #23