Category: Cancer

Virus can be used to treat cancer

There is a new hope for cancer patients as an engineered virus can target cancer cells when injected into the blood. The virus only attacks the tumour without affecting the healthy tissues of the body.

Using virus to treat cancer is not new as many doctors inject the virus directly into the tumour to treat the patient. This virus only attacks the cancer without affecting the immune system of the patient. This new study shows promise as the virus is injected directly into the blood and it does not affect the immune system. Since it is injected into the blood it can help in treating multiple organs that have been affected by cancer.

Researchers have modified the vaccinia virus which is being used to develop vaccine for smallpox. This virus is dependent upon the chemical pathway that is common in certain cancer cells in order to replicate their path.

Professor John Bell, from the University of Ottawa and lead said that he was very excited because it is the first time that viral therapy is showing signs of attacking cancer cells after it was injected in humans.

However, the virus cannot cure cancer but only prevent further growth of cancer. Since the research was conducted to test the safety of the virus, the patients were given only one dose.

Most experts believe that the research is still in its early stages and it will take a few years before this treatment is commercially launched in the market. However, these experts are of the view that this research can change are approach and method of treating cancer.

Study reveals that Taller Women have higher Cancer Risk

A recent study has found connection between taller women and cancer. The study revealed that tall women are more prone to cancer when compared to short women. Research has revealed that risk of cancer rose by 16 percent for every 4-inch increase in height.

Women who are tall can suffer from different types of cancer. Taller women have increased chances of suffering from 10 types of cancer which include ovary, womb, skin, bowel and breast cancer. Some of the factors that can increase the chances of cancer are body mass index, age of menstruation, alcohol intake, socio-economic status and work or exercise you do. The link between increased cancer risk and height is not limited to certain race or age but is the same for women of races and ages.

Researchers found that women who are tall have higher growth related hormones which can increase the risk of cancer in women. Most women reach the maximum height between the ages of 20 and 30 years. Growth related hormones are not only factor that lead to increase in height of men and women. The environment in which the person grows can also affect the height of the person. Also, childhood nutrition and infections can affect the height of the person.

Since people do not have control over their height, they can take steps that can reduce their chances of cancer. People can reduce their cancer risk by reducing their alcohol intake, quit smoking and exercising regularly.