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Electrical Field Treats Brain Cancer

Posted by kdawson on from the reverse-EEG dept.

amigoro writes "A device that specifically targets rapidly growing cancer cells with intermediate frequency electrical fields doubled the survival rates of patients with brain cancer, according to an article apperaring in PNAS. The device uses electrical fields to disrupt tumor growth by interfering with cell division of cancerous cells, causing them to stop proliferating and die off instead of dividing and growing. Healthy brain cells rarely divide and have different electrical properties than cancerous brain cells. This allows the device to target cancer cells without affecting the healthy cells. Essentially no device-related side effects were seenin the clinical trial."

6 of 136 comments (clear)

  1. Re:oohhh by Divebus · · Score: 2, Funny

    Great development. Now figure out how to stick an electrode in the right place to solve colorectal cancer - the #2 killer these days.

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    Most of the stuff on /. won't survive first contact with facts.
  2. No! by kitsunewarlock · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm not putting high-voltage machinery next to my BRAIN. That'll cause...oh wait.

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    Ginga no Rekshiya Mata Each page.
  3. Re:oohhh by kurzweilfreak · · Score: 3, Funny

    Bend over.

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    kurzweil_freak

    5th Kyu Genbukan Ninpo/KJJR student

    Be the darkness that allows the light to shine.

  4. Re:long term effects. by NeverVotedBush · · Score: 2, Funny

    Oh! But what about the long term effects?

    Personally, I am a big fan of homeopathic treatments. Everyone knows that the long term effects of electromagnetic fields are cancers. That's why I say not to use them for treatment! Go for the treatment that will not produce those nasty long term effects!

    Homeopathy! Yeah, that's the ticket!

  5. it can't be! by nanosquid · · Score: 4, Funny

    The physics geniuses on Slashdot, not to mention the cell phone industry, keep saying that electromagnetic radiation is non-ionizing, so it can't affect the brain!

  6. Crap! by wtansill · · Score: 2, Funny

    Now the phone and Wi-Fi industries can tout their offerings as "medical devices" and jack up the selling price. Meanwhile, aluminum futures will crater is it can be "proven" that tin-foil hats block "beneficial" radio frequencies...

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