NEW! (3-8-2023) From MSK –  AI Detecting Breast Cancer 4 years before it developed -Tremendous use of AI (Artificial Intelligence) for aiding in breast cancer detection.

NEW! (12-28-2022) From MD Anderson – 22 Research highlights from the past year

NEW! (12-24-2022) What is Gene Therapy? Gene therapy is a technique that modifies a person’s genes to treat or cure disease. Gene therapies can work by several mechanisms. This therapy good to understand and in some cases talk to your doctor about.

NEW! (7-6-2022) Something very new to me. I read this term from a book someone just gave me. It sounds legit since Memorial Sloan Kettering is also doing research in this area. What Is Epigenetics, and Why Is Everyone Talking about It?  Also, here is a Center for Epigenetics Research at MSK. This is some deep stuff and I need to understand it better, but I thought sharing this would help people be familiar with this word and area of study.

NEW! (7-5-2022) From Dana-Farber FDA Approves New Treatment Option For Glioma 

NEW! (2-25-2022)  Mesothelioma Support: A great website discussing Mesothelioma Cancer. Anyone who has come into contact with asbestos may develop Mesothelioma Cancer, regardless of how or how often they were exposed. Asbestos is also one of the factors that cause Lung Cancer. I believe there is a very good chance this is how I got my Stage 4 Lung Cancer diagnoses without ever smoking in my life. Definitely worth the read.

NEW! (12-29-2021) 2021 in Review: 10 Important Clinical Advances in Cancer at MSK   Excellent article from MSK. I will also be looking at NIH, MD-Anderson and Dana-Farber (top cancer hospitals in US) for similar 2021 cancer advancements

Updated! (4-25-2021) Promising treatment for deadly Glioblastoma (brain tumor) being tested on humans. Click here  This is one of the most difficult cancers to treat. New developments now can help change and treat this cancer

NEW! (3-29-2021) GammaTile Therapy: Oncology’s latest innovation for treatment. Surgically Targeted Radiation Therapy for patients with operable brain tumors. I honestly do not know much about this new technique right now. But I think it is worth the investigation if it could help your specific case.

NEW! (3-7-2021) Crispr technology is a simple yet powerful tool for editing genomes (DNA). It allows researchers to easily alter DNA sequences and modify gene function. This process was a given the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Two American women received this award for this breakthrough technology. Although some people worry about this technology, it could be the Holy Grail for treating a number of difficult medical conditions.  This was highlighted on the CBS Sunday Morning show.  This video better describes the technology. Click Here for CBS Video

       Updated! (3-10-2023)  Actual Crispr Technology case.  Great examples of how Crispr can be used for good and bad.

“Viruses Engineered to Kill Tumor Cells and Support Immune Cells” NIH (National Institute of Health) A great approach and phenomenal way that could change the way we treat cancer.  

Tumor Paint: This is another potential breakthrough for surgical removal of tumors. This technique is amazing … and my best guess is that this will become mainstream in the near future. Typically when a tumor is removed by a surgeon they like to think, I got it all. In some cases they do get it all, but in many cases they do not. Cancer can be so small and unnoticeable in nearby locations of the tumor that is being removed.

This so-called “paint” will light up the tumor cells that are normally not visible to the human eye. This will definitely help with the removal of cancer in surgeries. It’s like when you put a black light on a scorpion in the middle of the night, it will light up thanks to luminescence. Using this technique will allow the doctor to remove tumor sections that he or she previously could not see … the paint lights up the abnormal cancer cells!

See examples here:   Example 1 from Seattle Children’s Foundation, and Example 2 from CNN.com.

Early Detection Blood Tests: Today scientists are taking the existing liquid biopsy test and developing an early detection blood test. Today’s liquid biopsy test is only used after the cancer cells have spread in stages 3 and 4. With this new technology, scientists want to identify cancer cells much earlier, in stages 1 and 2. This test is in the early phases of development, but is proving to be very promising.

GalleriTM is an multi-cancer Early Detection test available today. The Galleri test detects more than 50 types of cancer through a simple blood draw. Click on the link above to learn more. Special Note: These types of DNA tests can be quite expensive if you do it on your own. If you can get a doctor to order it with your insurance, there is the possibility it can be much less, or $0 in some cases.

CancerSEEK  is another Early Detection noninvasive test that can detect cancers of the ovary, liver, stomach, pancreas, esophagus, colorectum, lung, or breast.  This was developed by Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center.  From the site: This test represents the next step in changing the focus of cancer research from late-stage disease to early disease, which can  be critical to reducing cancer deaths in the long term.