Technology Never Rests: A New Anti-Cancer Breakthrough

We all have people close to us that had cancer, and this disease is believed to be the main nemesis of this century. Cancer is indeed a killer, being responsible for millions of deaths worldwide, and it doesn't matter how much money you have - it can kill you (Steve Jobs).

Being it so terrible, it is only natural that we worry about it, giving it priority in the health research fields. Well, it seems that priority brought some advances.

This post is a bit different from what I usually post, but since we all love technology here, and I think it's so amazing, I decided to share.

If that's not your cup of tea, thank you for coming all the same.

Scientists Created Tiny Lasers: A Laser Inside Each Cell

This is exactly what it sounds like.

Researchers developed a way to implant tiny lasers inside of cancer cells. But what does this mean?

Well, first things first, let me get you the source so you don't think I am pulling this "sci-fi looking" story out of my hat.

• Nature Photonics Scientific Magazine
• IFL Science (simplified article)

Now that we have sourcing out of the way, what do these lasers do? Why is the breakthrough important.

Tagging Cancer Cells: Why It's Important

Let me write this in the least jargon-filled scientific way possible - it is vital to tag cancer cells in order to fight them.

You wouldn't want to navigate a room in the dark right?

Well, up until now, we've been using fluorescent dyes, but those are limited in color and sometimes very hard to distinguish.

It's vital for the tissues to be correctly identified so professionals know what cells are cancerous and define the right targets.

The "micro-lasers" have the possibility to display 400 different colors, so the best one can be picked for each case.

Not only that, the laser light is bright and is easier to detect than dyes - as one should expect.

Cancer Cells Move: Accompanying Migrating Tumors

We all know cancer spreads throughout the body, and that's because cancerous cells move.

These micro-lasers enable doctors to follow the cancerous cells throughout the patient's body, so the patient doesn't get surprised in the worst way possible.

Following the migration of the cells is also vital if treatment is to be done and if the cancer is to be halted.

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In Conclusion:

This is massive news, and I can't wait for this treatment to become mainstream. It will benefit the lives of millions, and I am just a bit disappointed it didn't got here sooner, but such is life.

This just proves medical research can accomplish amazing feats.