By Vanessa Brunner, PIC Current Contributor
Cancer is a scary word. For most of us, the word provokes mental images of an agonizing disease and painful treatment. However, doctors in Britain are hoping that a new MRI test will allow patients to hear the word sooner rather than later. If caught early, most forms of cancer can be successfully treated.
An MRI view of a person's brain
Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI, is usually used by doctors to scan patient’s bodies for disease, including cancer. This imaging technique, which provides an incredibly detailed internal view of the body, locates diseases by looking at the levels of water and fat in different tissues.
This method has not been used on human patients yet, with researchers hoping to hold human clinical trials sometime in 2009. However, it has been tested successfully on lab mice. The mice were injected with a chemical similar to the baking soda that occurs naturally in the body, and then underwent MRI screenings to measure the level of acidity in their tissue.
The biggest benefit of this new technology is that it will help doctors catch cancerous tissue in patients much earlier than was previously possible. Not only that, but the changes in acidity levels that are typical in cancerous tissues are also common for heart diseases and strokes. This means these health problems may also be solved earlier.
While few people are on the lookout for cancerous tissues in their bodies, it is something that everyone should be aware of and take precautions. Both of my parents are at the age where they need to be tested routinely for various cancers. While I’m still too young to be tested for breast cancer, women my age are still at risk for skin, lung and cervical cancer.
By getting checked out regularly, you can catch cancer in its earliest stages, making complete recovery much more possible. Not only that, but by avoiding cancer causing activities (such as smoking, drinking heavily, and laying out in the sun without sunscreen) and participating in a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and foods full of antioxidants, you take a huge step in cutting down your chances of getting cancer.
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