Cancer research is the kind of topic which I like to read about because it seems like there are a litany of new findings to be talked about. As a result, you can imagine that some stories are able to grab my attention more than others. When it comes to ways to potentially shorten tumor growth, for example, one wouldn't think that something like polio wouldn't be the least bit useful. However, my initial opinion on the matter has changed after reading about Stephanie Lipscomb.
ABC News reported on the matter, saying that Lipscomb initially felt discomfort in her head when she was finishing up her freshman year of college. After the pain became too much, she had it checked out and she was diagnosed with glioblastoma, regarded as the most prevalent tumor type of all. It was located behind her right eye and she had surgery to remove it, at least initially. After the tumor returned two years later, though, another method was suggested and it was far different from others in the past.
Dr. Annick Desjardins, who was Lipscomb's neurologist, decided to suggest a clinical trial that had not been before done. It would make use of the polio virus which would, in theory, go into the cancer cells in order to unlock and destroy them, considering the virus' ability to do so. Lipscomb was able to utilize this while other patients could not since her tumor resided on the right frontal lobe. Such features as vision and language are not positioned here, so it was deemed safer to utilize.
While not the most traditional method in this particular field, it's good to see that the results have been tremendous. According to the written piece, after this procedure in the field of cancer research, Lipscomb's tumor decreased from the size of a lime to the size of a pea. She was the first patient to utilize this method and it went to show in how her survival rate became better from the initial five years she was given. This is the kind of story deserving of attention from organizations such as Voices against Brain Cancer.
I believe that there is a tremendous amount to learn about when it comes to cancer research. To me, it's a field in which so much potential has remained untapped and I can only hope that there is more to discover on the matter. The polio virus is well-known and you can probably imagine that very few people would have ever thought it could be harnessed to lessen tumor growth. Any concerns can be cast aside now after Lipscomb's story has become known.
ABC News reported on the matter, saying that Lipscomb initially felt discomfort in her head when she was finishing up her freshman year of college. After the pain became too much, she had it checked out and she was diagnosed with glioblastoma, regarded as the most prevalent tumor type of all. It was located behind her right eye and she had surgery to remove it, at least initially. After the tumor returned two years later, though, another method was suggested and it was far different from others in the past.
Dr. Annick Desjardins, who was Lipscomb's neurologist, decided to suggest a clinical trial that had not been before done. It would make use of the polio virus which would, in theory, go into the cancer cells in order to unlock and destroy them, considering the virus' ability to do so. Lipscomb was able to utilize this while other patients could not since her tumor resided on the right frontal lobe. Such features as vision and language are not positioned here, so it was deemed safer to utilize.
While not the most traditional method in this particular field, it's good to see that the results have been tremendous. According to the written piece, after this procedure in the field of cancer research, Lipscomb's tumor decreased from the size of a lime to the size of a pea. She was the first patient to utilize this method and it went to show in how her survival rate became better from the initial five years she was given. This is the kind of story deserving of attention from organizations such as Voices against Brain Cancer.
I believe that there is a tremendous amount to learn about when it comes to cancer research. To me, it's a field in which so much potential has remained untapped and I can only hope that there is more to discover on the matter. The polio virus is well-known and you can probably imagine that very few people would have ever thought it could be harnessed to lessen tumor growth. Any concerns can be cast aside now after Lipscomb's story has become known.
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