Medical Breakthrough -- Radiation Seeds for Breast Cancer

Radiation treatment is often necessary for breast cancer patients to ensure remaining cancer cells don't come back after a lumpectomy. It can be painful, time consuming, and emotionally and physically draining. Tonight's medical breakthrough shows us how a new therapy cuts treatment time from several weeks to one day. --Click the title of this post to read the full article from its source--

Breast Cancer Stem Cells Seem to Survive Radiation Therapy

Breast cancer stem cells, a type of cell that scientists have recently discovered is difficult to kill, may be especially resistant to radiation therapy, a new study suggests. In fact, the radiation can even increase the growth of these stubborn stem cells, report researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine. "This population of stem cells is more radiation-resistant than are non-stem cells," said Dr. Frank Pajonk, an assistant adjunct professor of radiation oncology at UCLA and corresponding author on the study. "We are the first to report this." Radiation treatment involves exposure to high-energy rays or particles that destroy cancerous cells. It is often recommended after surgery for breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. --Click the title of this post to read the full article from its source--

North American Scientific gets FDA nod for breast cancer device

Radiation therapy products developer North American Scientific Inc. (NASI.O: Quote, Profile, Research) said it received U.S. regulatory marketing approval for its high-dose rate radiation treatment design of ClearPath, a breast cancer treatment device. The company had received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration to market the low-dose rate system in April. (Reporting by Ankur Relia in Bangalore) --Click the title of this post to read the full article from its source--