Cancer nanotechnology, the use of molecular tools designed to
combat the disease, is a growing field.
Recently, the National Cancer Institute announced two waves of
funding for nanotech training and research, and it sees
nanotechnology as vital to its goal of "eliminating suffering
and death from cancer by 2015."
In recent years, much has been learned about how cancer works at
the cellular level, meaning that molecules that detect and
destroy cancer cells could eventually make painful and
ineffective treatments a thing of the past.
Cancer Detection
The first generation of cancer nanotech applications will most
likely concern detection. Nanoparticles could recognize a
cancer's molecular signatures, or adhere to hidden cancerous
cells, making them visible to an MRI or fluorescent light.
Cancer Destruction
Eventually, nanoparticles could be made which not only find
those cells, but also destroy them.
Such applications could include:
- Metallic molecules that
adhere to cancer cells, and can then be heated with microwaves,
a magnetic field, or infrared light, destroying the
tumor
without harm to surrounding tissue
- Molecular envelopes for
chemical compounds that would otherwise be toxic to
ingest
- Nanoparticles that carry other therapeutic chemicals
on their surface to targeted areas
It is difficult to guess how soon cancer nanotechnologies will
be commercially available. The research is still in early
stages, and safety testing is difficult.
Wired News November 7, 2005Wired News November 7, 2005
Dr. Mercola's Comment:I am a major proponent of technology and
have previously run articlesabout nanotechnology.Without any
doubt, this technology will change your life in the future, for
better or worse. I suspect you'll hearing much more about
nanotech in the coming years being used as a weapon by
conventional medicine to eliminate cancer.
In fact, the National Cancer Institute is so keen on nanotech,
they've developed a Cancer Nanotechnology Plan that calls for
clinical trials in as soon as three years.
I remain cautiously optimistic though. Well I welcome this
radical breakthrough in technology I have some concerns and
reservations about it being another form ofpollution that could
ultimately backfire and create more harm than good.
However, I do believe if properly harnessed this technology,
along with genetic expression manipulation has the potential to
extend our lifespan into the 150 year old range.
However,you don't have to wait for technology to catch up to
natural treatments to enhance and protect your health. And even
if nanotech were here today they would work synergistically with
natural therapies and would in no way be a substitute or
replacement for them.
If you want to virtually eliminate your cancer risk today, I
urge you to review my comprehensive list of 11 recommendations I
posted earlier this year.
About the author:
This article is reprinted from Mercola.com, the world's #1 most
visited and trusted natural/alternative health website. For a
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Written by: Dr. Joseph Mercola
