Cancer cure news updates 2016: U.K. scientists work on groundbreaking laser therapy for early stages of Prostate Cancer
The connotations attached to the word "cancer" have always been terrible. Being a traitor disease, it can be a silent killer if not detected right away. But professionals all over the globe are continuing their efforts in trying to find a breakthrough that will hopefully end the devastating sickness, although admittedly, developments are arguably at a slow pace.
There are a lot of variations of cancers for women and men; for the former, breast cancer has been prevalent over the last few years while prostate cancer is something the latter should be careful about. British experts, however, have been working on a recent breakthrough that will help prostate cancer-struck males to kill the tumors causing the disease. The high-technology mechanism called Vascular Targeted Photodynamic therapy is done by injecting the prostate gland with a light-sensitive drug called WST11, into the bloodstream through fiber lasers.
"Currently when a man is diagnosed with early stage disease we are unable to accurately predict his risk of the cancer developing and causing harm," Dr. Matthew Hobbs of Prostate Cancer UK said and was quoted by Express. "Focal therapy treatments like this one have the potential to offer a middle ground option for some men with cancer that has not spread outside the prostate. By treating the cancer directly, rather than the whole prostate, this type of therapy could spare some men the long term side effects of other treatments."
Despite the groundbreaking discovery, the long-term effects of the scheme are still yet to be determined, as although it kills prostate cancer cells, it is unknown whether it can improve or even save the lives of men with the disease. It is important to note that according to the official study thus far, covering 47 treatment sites from ten European countries, 49% of the 413 men who tried it went to complete remission. This is compared to just 13.5% of those who were in the control group. Still, it does not take away the fact that there is potential in the treatment that can eventually save lives of men worldwide. It also gives men a more viable option in terms of action rather than just waiting for their cancer not to worsen any longer. That is why Cancer Research UK is committed to moving forward with tests to determine its effectivity.
"It's important these types of trials are done so we can assess and improve treatment for low risk prostate cancer patients," Professor Malcolm Mason of Cancer Research UK said.