Nanotubes and treating breast cancer.

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Many years ago I pondered how one day I would cure cancer! The idea I came up with, was I thought, pretty smart. I'd learned somewhere that everything has a natural resonance, and my idea was to introduce a metal into a cancer cell (I thought of using some altered variety of the common cold virus) and then to apply the correct sound from outside the body that would resonate that particular metal. The result would be, to my mind at least, that the individual cells would turn to mush and hey presto, cancer cured.

Like all good, simple ideas, it didn't progress any further, probably because

1. I didn't have the odd $10Million to set up a team and equipment to work on my theory, and
2. I was a humble GP with five very hungry children to feed and
3. It wouldn't have worked anyway

But I was reminded of my idea when I read about how researchers are using muti-walled nanotubes for the treatment of breast cancer. Apparently there are breast cancer stem cells that are particularly resistant to treatment and are thought to be responsible for the spread/metastasis of breast cancer and unfortunatley the usual readiation therapy doesn't work on them.

But the nanotubes, although made of carbon, when exposed to certain laser radiation, heat up and kill the cells they are in. At this stage it appears that the nanotubes are injected directly into cancer tumours, the hope is that they can be "delivered" to individual metastases and then activated. That dream is still a long way off, but then 20 years ago I thought 10 years seemed a long time too.

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Living with breast cancer.

Tweet I was Skyping with an overseas, and much loved member of our family the other day, and catching up with how she was dealing with her third round of chemo for breast cancer.

This lady has style and panache!

She first appeared wearing a head scarf and recounted the usual story of the trials and tribulations of what chemotherapy actually involves, and for someone who has absolutely no medical knowledge whatsoever, she now sounds like a seasoned oncology nurse trotting out technical terms and blood cell types that would make a pathology professor smile!


After a few minutes she disappeared for a few seconds and returned, resplendent, wearing her new blond wig. We got the full 360 degree view, and then with a theatrical flip, she whipped it off to reveal a near-bald dome, topped with a bit of dark fluff. The young bride next to me suppressed a gasp of shock, but we both agreed afterward that what we had seen showed courage, style and the amazing attitude that this lady has. Buts what's more, we were informed that "Chemo is great for your nails: they've never been so good"! Now this coming from a lady of fashion is high praise indeed.


I mention this because breast cancer is on the increase, but at the same time survival has never been better either: so the simple truth is that 1 in 9 Australian women will get breast cancer, and they will have to face up to the associated treatment.  If the example of our much loved family member is anything to go by, the "glass half full" approach can make the treatment period far more bearable.